Creating a Climate Change Network to be a Resource For All

In the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions, the new Center for Climate Change and Health Equity (CCCHE) aims to serves as a hub, connecting researchers, policymakers, community organizations, and global partners to advance collaborative climate resiliency and health equity initiatives. Focused on Western New York and beyond, the CCCHE provides strategic support to improve climate adaptation, health outcomes, and environmental justice for populations experiencing vulnerability. 

In this presentation, we will highlight research expertise for faculty in the center, discuss various university and community initiatives identified so far, share how CCCHE intends to foster interdisciplinary work towards solutions to climate and health challenges, and invite others to share information about their projects with us for inclusion in our online climate and health stakeholder map and our contact database for the broader community. Through a strong partnership between the university and the community, we aim to translate projects into actionable strategies that improve climate resilience and health equity at every level.

As part of this project, the CCCHE’s website will act as an interactive public resource for sharing the information we find, fostering communication and collaboration. Users can discover ongoing initiatives, sign up for updates, and connect with each other. The platform seeks to share vital information on climate action, health research, and education is accessible to all. With real-time mapping features and resources, community members can engage with local efforts, identify partners, and contribute to solutions that bridge climate science, health, and policy. 

About Kelly Baker and Shelby Yamamoto
Dr. Kelly K. Baker is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and Director of the Center for Climate Change and Health Equity at the UB. Her research aims to identify and scale up practical interventions that prevent community transmission of enteric and antimicrobial-resistant infections between humans, animals, and the environment, with a focus on ensuring health of young children. Her funded research includes the development and testing of rapid diagnostics, evaluation of the impact of global development strategies on enteric and antimicrobial disease control, measuring the impact of flooding and drought on rural well water safety, and assessment of how climate-driven food and water insecurity affects maternal and child health.

Shelby Yamamoto (Dr Sci Hum) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health in the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions. As an environmental epidemiologist, she focuses on investigating air pollution and climate change exposure, developing and exploring ways to capture climate change and air pollution-related vulnerability, assessing mitigation and adaptive capacity, and promoting community resilience across and within populations.