What’s in this issue of The Double Loop?

The escalating threats of climate change cast long shadows over global health, including increases in disease epidemics, profound impacts on mental health, disruptions to health infrastructure, and alterations in the severity and geographical distribution of diseases. Mitigating the impact of such shadows on communities will test the resilience of health infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and especially challenge front line health workers.

For health workers on the frontlines of global health, these shadows touch on their professional and personal lives. Many health workers get to know and be accepted by individual communities over multiple years. While they are not climate scientists, they do observe changes in the environments and health profiles of the communities in which they and their fellow community members live and work.

This issue of The Double Loop includes five experiences of climate change and health shared by contributors to the Foundation’s Special Event: From Community to Planet: Health Professionals on the Frontlines of Climate Change.

From community to planet: health professionals face climate change

Short articles based on some of these observations were shared with all event participants, prompting further comment. Under some of the experiences, we include selected responses to the stories.

You might also be interested in:

Learning from frontline e health workers in the Climate Change Era: Editorial by The Geneva Learning Foundation and Bridges to Development.

Learning from Frontline Health Workers in the Climate Change Era

Explainer: What does immunization have to do with climate change?

What does immunization have to do with climate change?

Sharing your experience and insights

Your experience and insights help other members of the Movement for IA2030. Follow the link at the end of each section to share your comments and feedback.

• You choose if you wish to share anonymously or if you want your contribution be named.
• You can also share a challenge that you need help with, make a comment or a suggestion for improvement. We may add your comments, stories, and shared learning to the current issue.
• You can read feedback from colleagues via the Insights on Insights page.

If you are a donor, partner, or researcher interested in these insights, we encourage you to share your thoughts or write directly to Ian Steed, Insights Unit Editor.

What is your experience of how climate change is affecting community health?

Do you worry about climate change? Tell us about any changes in climate and weather that you have observed. Tell us more about any changes in health that you have observed. Do you believe that the changes in climate and health are related? Why do you believe this? Would you like to share your experience in relation to climate and health?