Climate Health Institute
Climate change is already affecting our health. Extreme heat, flooding, air pollution and changing living environments are increasing health risks, particularly for those who are most vulnerable: older people, individuals with chronic conditions, and those living in less favourable circumstances. The Climate Health Institute brings together research, healthcare and society to address these pressing health challenges.
Within the Climate Health Institute, healthcare professionals from different disciplines, researchers, students, citizens and patients explore how climate change affects our bodies and wellbeing. The focus is not only on treating symptoms, but on the early recognition and prevention of health problems. By gaining a better understanding of how the body responds to factors such as heat or air pollution, we can intervene earlier and help people prepare for periods of extreme conditions. The Climate Health Institute works towards a future in which people — and especially vulnerable groups — are more resilient to the effects of a changing climate. To achieve this, it focuses on three key questions:
- What health effects arise from climate change, and through which mechanisms?
- Which groups are most vulnerable to these effects?
- Which interventions and measures effectively protect health, both in healthcare and in the living environment?
“We can already see the consequences. That is why we are taking action now.”
Prof. dr. Annemie Schols, dean of FHML
Air quality
What impact does air pollution have on the human body? The Climate Health Institute investigates how reduced air quality leads to adverse health effects through biological processes in the body. This includes effects on the respiratory system as well as broader impacts, such as on the cardiovascular system.
Water quality
What impact does water quality have on our health? The Climate Health Institute examines how flooding and contaminated water can lead to infections, skin conditions and other health problems. Particular attention is given to vulnerable groups and to solutions that better protect health.
Heat stress
How does heat affect the human body in the short and long term? The Climate Health Institute studies the strain on different body systems, as well as the role of existing conditions and medication use. Attention to differences between individuals contributes to a better understanding of heat-related health risks.
“We want to understand how climate change affects our health – and how we can prepare for it.”
Dr. Helen Mertens, chair of the board of Maastricht UMC+
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Contact
Hafez Ismaïli M'hamdi
Scientific coordinator
hafez.ismailimhamdi@maastrichtuniversity.nl