The notion that climate change poses a significant health risk is not as widely acknowledged as it should be. Yet the relationship between a warming planet and human well-being is profound, with impacts ranging from heat waves to the spread of infectious diseases. Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, is determined to change that. “Developing evidence-based solutions to the damage to our health done by climate change is genuinely vital,” Dangour told Mongabay during a recent exchange with Matthew Boyer, reflecting his mission to place health at the center of climate action. Dangour’s journey at the nexus of human well-being and the environment began well before joining Wellcome in January 2022. As a Professor of Food and Nutrition for Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, he dedicated years to studying the intersections of environmental change, food systems, and public health. His time in academia highlighted the increasing toll that climate change was taking on health, a theme that has only grown more pressing. Today, at the helm of Wellcome’s Climate and Health program, Dangour leads a team focused on translating research into practical, policy-driven solutions that protect communities from the health consequences of a rapidly changing climate. While the concept of climate change as a public health issue is not new, its mainstream inclusion remains limited. For many, the conversation around climate remains centered on atmospheric science, energy policies, and sea level projections. Dangour’s work aims to recalibrate this discourse. “When talking…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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