Global Environmental Change and Human Health (GECHH)

1. Updated on 6 May 2010 Global Environmental Change and Human Health (GECHH) A Joint Project of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP), hosted by the United Nations University Institute for Water Environment and Health (UNU-INEH) www.gechh.unu.edu

2. An introduction to … • The context: the ESSP Partnership, its Joint Projects & GECHH host institution; • The mission: the GECHH Goals, the Research Priority Targets, & the Scientific Steering Committee; • The actions: resources, upcoming activities & partnership opportunities.

3. The context… 1. The GECHH is a Joint Project of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) The ESSP is a partnership for the integrated study of the Earth System, the ways that it is changing, and the implications for global and regional sustainability. • www.essp.org

4. The context… 2. The GECHH is part of the family of ongoing ESSP Joint Projects: Food Carbon Water Health • www.essp.org

5. The context… 3. The GECHH is hosted & supported by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) • UN Think Tank on Water • Chair of UN-Water • Including a Water-Health Nexus Programme, hosting the GECHH International Project Office (Hamilton, Canada) • www.inweh.unu.edu

6. The mission… 1. The Goals • To identify and quantify risks to human health posed by GEC – now and in the foreseeable future; • Describe spatial/temporal differences in health risks, to better understand vulnerabilities and priorities for interventions; • To enrich the policy discussion about mitigation and adaptation from a human health perspective; • Foster research training, to boost networked international research capacity in GEC & HH. • www.gechh.unu.edu

7. The mission… • Research Priority Targets Atmospheric composition changes and their health impacts Land use/Land cover changes and human health issues Infectious disease and global environmental changes Food-producing systems and health Urbanisation and health Vulnerability, social representation and resilience building • www.gechh.unu.edu

8. The mission… • The Scientific Steering Committee Co-Chairs: U. Confalonieri (Brazil) & M. Rosenberg (Canada) Members: C. Butler (Australia); S. Kovats (UK); M. Cesario (Brazil); A. Kijazi (Tanzania); K. Ebi (USA); A. Aguirre (USA/Mexico); G. Poveda (Colombia); E.Lindgren (Sweden); U. Oswald Spring (Mexico); A. Morse (UK); F. Grifo (USA); M. Depledge (UK); & C. Corvalan (PAHO/WHO). Ex Officio: Z. Adeel (UNU-INWEH). Corresponding members: A. Haines (UK), and A. McMichael (Australia). • www.gechh.unu.edu

9. The actions… 1. Resources & Publications • www.gechh.unu.edu

10. The actions… 2. Upcoming activities • 2010 Symposium “Global Environmental Change and Human Health: Protecting Water Quality”in partnership with UNU-INWEH (Hamilton, Canada, 1-2 Nov. 2010) • 2011 Symposium “Global Environmental Change and Human Health: Protecting Food Security” (Australia) • 2012 Symposium “Global Environmental Change and Human Health: Protecting Ecosystem Services” (South Africa). • www.gechh.unu.edu

11. The actions… 3. Partnership opportunities • Projects’ endorsement procedures; • Identifying and catalyzing new research networks; • Co-organization of capacity-building initiatives. • www.gechh.unu.edu

12. Acknowledgements The GECHH thanks the following institutions for their financial and in-kind support: • UNU-INWEH • GEC Research Programmes • ESSP Coordination Office • UNU-INWEH • McMaster University

13. Updated on 6 May 2010 Global Environmental Change and Human Health (GECHH) For further information, please contact the GECHH Project Officer, Dr. L. Spini (spinil@inweh.unu.edu), or visit www.gechh.unu.edu