Explore how climate change is reshaping the interconnected systems that underpin human health, food production, infrastructure and resilient communities in the twenty first century.
The planet is running a fever. But the consequences extend far beyond the environment.
Climate change is increasingly exposing the fragility of the systems that sustain human life. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and ecosystem disruption are affecting not only natural environments, but also food systems, water security, health services, economies, infrastructure and social cohesion.
Health provides a unique lens through which to understand these interconnected impacts because it sits downstream of almost every system upon which society depends.
Drawing on experience at the intersection of global public policy, health and climate resilience, Nancy Wong explores the climate–health nexus as a systems challenge rather than solely an environmental one. She examines how climate change change cascades through the complex networks that shape human wellbeing, why some communities are more at risk than others, and what these emerging pressures reveal about the resilience of today’s societies.
The lecture will also explore why climate action should not be viewed simply as a response to risk. It presents an opportunity to redesign systems including health, energy, transport, food, and urban development – in ways that simultaneously improve health, strengthen resilience and create more sustainable futures.
Combining global evidence with practical insights, this session invites audiences to think differently about climate change: not as a discrete environmental issue, but as a systems issue that will shape the future of human health, societal resilience and, ultimately, our collective capacity to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
YOUR SPEAKER
Nancy Wong
Wao Trustee and Senior Strategic Communications & Public Relations Lead World Health Organisation (WHO)