By Professor Mike Tipton, Chair of the Global Climate and Health Summit
Climate change is a health crisis
The climate crisis is not a distant or abstract threat—it is a public health emergency that is already affecting millions of people worldwide. Rising temperatures, air pollution, and disruptions to food systems are driving a cascade of health challenges that demand immediate, science-led policy interventions. As physiologists, we understand the fundamental ways in which the human body responds to environmental changes, and we recognise the urgent need for evidence-based strategies to mitigate these impacts.
This is why The Physiological Society (TPS), supported by Wellcome, is hosting the Global Climate and Health Summit on 16-17 July 2025 at the QEII Centre in London and online. This Summit is designed to be an action-focused event, bringing together researchers, policymakers, public health professionals, engineers, economists, and many more to tackle three of the most pressing climate-related health issues: heat resilience, air pollution, and sustainable nutrition.
The role of physiology in tackling the climate and health crisis
Physiology is at the heart of understanding how climate change affects human health. The way our bodies respond to heat stress, adapt to air pollution, and metabolise nutrients in changing food environments is central to building resilience in a warming world. Physiologists provide crucial insights that inform policy and interventions, ensuring that climate strategies are grounded in human biology.
The Physiological Society has been at the forefront of this work, driving research and policy engagement. In recent years, we have published key reports such as Physiology and Climate Change (2021) and The Climate Emergency: Research Gaps and Policy Priorities (2022). More recently, our 2024 Roadmap for Global Heat Resilience has shaped discussions on protecting workers from extreme heat. By convening experts and policymakers, we are ensuring that physiological science translates into real-world solutions.
Why this Summit matters
The Global Climate and Health Summit is different from a traditional academic conference. This is not just a forum for discussion—it is a call to action. Climate change is already increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, exacerbating respiratory diseases, and threatening food security. Our goal is to move beyond identifying these problems to delivering solutions that will protect human health in the face of climate change.
Our three key strands —heat resilience, air pollution, and sustainable nutrition—have been chosen because they represent areas where climate action can effectively improve health outcomes while also addressing the broader climate crisis.
- Heat resilience: Heat stress is one of the most direct physiological challenges of climate change. Indoor workers, such as those in factories and warehouses, are among the most vulnerable, and current workplace protections can be inadequate. This strand will examine the utility of physiologically informed thresholds for heat stress, ensuring that policies are based on real human responses rather than arbitrary temperature cut-offs. It will also focus on economically viable interventions, balancing productivity and worker health.
- Air pollution: Deteriorating indoor air quality, exacerbated by climate change, is an often-overlooked crisis. This strand will explore scalable, equitable solutions that address both acute pollution events (such as wildfires, heatwaves) and chronic exposure to pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter. We will develop policy recommendations and practical interventions at individual, community and government levels.
- Sustainable nutrition: Food systems play a crucial role in both climate change and public health. This strand will explore how sustainable diets can improve health outcomes while reducing environmental impact. It will address economic and behavioural barriers to change, focusing on global food equity and culturally adaptable, plant-based dietary transitions.
What the Summit hopes to achieve
While we must focus on adapting to the health challenges posed by climate change, we cannot lose sight of the need to tackle the climate crisis at its source by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Encouragingly, many of the solutions that protect human health—such as reducing air pollution, promoting sustainable diets, and improving workplace heat resilience—also benefit the planet. Addressing climate and health together creates a virtuous circle, where what is good for our bodies is also good for the environment.
Our ambition is to create tangible, lasting impact and action. The Summit is structured to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and produce real-world outcomes, including:
- A unified policy roadmap integrating solutions from all strands, prioritising health equity and resilience.
- Policy recommendations aimed at governments, funding organisations, and industry leaders.
- Open access publications to disseminate key findings widely.
- Expansion of the Climate and Physiological Resilience Network, strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations beyond the Summit.
- Practical toolkits and guidelines for policymakers, employers, and communities to implement effective health protection strategies.
Why you should attend
This is an opportunity to be part of a truly innovative transdisciplinary, collaborative effort to address one of the greatest challenges of our time. Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, health professional, industry leader, or community advocate, your voice and expertise are needed to ensure that our collective response to climate change prioritises human health.
The Summit is free to attend, with a limited number of places available for the in-person Summit in London. A hybrid format ensures that participation is accessible globally, minimising travel-related emissions while maximising inclusivity.
Join us in turning science into action
The Physiological Society has a strong track record of driving research and policy impact in climate and health, and we have consistently worked to bridge the gap between science and policy.
We invite you to join us at the Global Climate and Health Summit with a call to action to transform knowledge into action. Together, through transdisciplinary collaboration, we can shape a healthier, more climate-resilient future.
Find out more and register at www.globalclimateandhealthsummit.org.