Inaugural Harvard Climate Symposium – Center for Health Decision Science

At the inaugural Harvard Climate Symposium, CHDS Deputy Director Lisa Robinson participated in a panel on the threats posed by extreme heat, emphasizing the importance of thinking carefully about the benefits and costs of alternative policies and the likelihood of successful implementation. The panel was organized by Kari Nadeau, the chair of the Harvard Chan School Department of Environmental Health and the Interim Director of C-CHANGE. Other panelists included Francesca Dominici of the Harvard Chan School and Gaurab Basu of Harvard Medical School. The symposium marked the first major event of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability’s Climate Action Accelerator. The Accelerator aims to encourage collaboration and support a broad range of stakeholders grappling with complex climate-related issues. Its goal is to foster consensus on climate solutions by leveraging the university’s research and expertise.

During the panel on “Heat Stress: Science and Solutions,” participants discussed the growing concern for individual and population health given rising global temperatures. The speakers explored potential solutions, including institutional action, policy changes, and adaptive engineering, with the aim of mitigating the associate risks. The panel’s objective was to generate innovative ideas while encouraging a practical approach to adaption and mitigation.

Learn more: Read the article, Rising Global Temperatures Are Threatening Our Health—but There Are Reasons to Be Hopeful
Learn more: Read the article, Harvard Convenes Leaders at a Climate Crossroads
Learn more: Resource Pack: Introduction to Benefit-Cost Analysis