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Agenda, Participants and Videos

Public Health Impacts of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

November 25, 2009
The National Press Club
529 14th Street, Washington, DC

The findings of a major international study to investigate the public health impacts of different strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were made public on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. The release of the findings was a combined event in the UK  and the US, coinciding with the publication of the results in the Lancet  .

Intent of the launch event

  • To report the findings of the study;
  • To address the policy and public health implications of the findings, to send a clear message to governments and Copenhagen negotiators about the importance of addressing health in any mitigation strategies;
  • To elevate awareness of the importance of health and climate change more broadly on the political agenda - including impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation.

Event Program

  • Video from this event

 

 

 

Time (EST)Event
7:30 a.mRegistration and Breakfast (courtesy of the UN Foundation)
8:20 a.m

Welcome 

  •   Dr. Christopher Portier (56KB) , Associate Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health
8:30 a.m.

Opening Comments  

  • Chair: Sir Mark Walport, Director, Wellcome Trust 
  •   Dr. Christopher Portier (56KB) , Associate Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
  •   Mr. Ban Ki-moon (28KB) , Secretary-General, United Nations (by video)

 

 

9:00 a.m.

Study Findings 

  • Chair: Dr. Richard Horton, Editor, The Lancet 
  • London 
    • Prof. Sir Andy Haines (40KB) (summary findings and policy implications), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) 
    • Alan Dangour (food and agriculture), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) 
    • Paul Wilkinson (household energy), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) 
    • James Woodcock (transport), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) 
    • Anil Markandya (electricity), Basque Centre for Climate Change 
  • Washington 
10:00 a.m.

Public Health Policy Panel Discussion and Q&A with Panelists 

  • Moderator: Dr. David Heymann, Head, Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House
  • US Panel Members 
  • UK Panel Members 
    • Dr. Nafees Meah (19KB) , Head of Science, Department of Energy and Climate Change 
    • Dr. Maria Neira (38KB) , Director, Public Health and the Environment Department, World Health Organization 
    • Dr. David Pencheon (13KB) , Director, National Health Service Sustainable Development Unit 
  • Discussion Topics
    • Impact of findings on Copenhagen negotiations and mitigation strategies 
    • How to facilitate technological changes 
    • How to facilitate behavioral changes
11:20 a.m

Closing Comments 

  • Sir William Castell, Chairman, Wellcome Trust 
  • Dr. Linda Birnbaum (37KB) , Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health
11:30 a.m.

Press Conference - Q&A (UK video link ends) 

  • Moderator: Dr. Linda Birnbaum (37KB) , Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US National Institutes of Health 
  • Opening Comments: Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services 
  • Dr. Jon Kim Andrus (23KB) , Deputy Director, Pan American Health Organization 
  • Dr. Roberto Bertollini, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 
  • Prof. Rita Colwell (30KB) , University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University 
  • Dr. Roger Glass (33KB) , Director, Fogarty International Center, US National Institutes of Health 
  • Dr. Michael Jerrett (14KB) , University of California, Berkeley 
  • Prof. Kirk R. Smith (40KB) , University of California, Berkeley
12:30 p.m.Adjourn

 

Issues covered

  • Impact of findings on Copenhagen negotiations and mitigation strategies
  • How to facilitate technological changes?
  • How to facilitate behaviour changes?

 

Discussion included full range of sectors examined in study

  • Transport
  • Household energy
  • Electricity generation
  • Food and agriculture
  • Short-lived greenhouse pollutants
  • Public health
  • Climate change negotiations
  • Behavioral change

 

Logos of instutitues involved in climate change research

 

The Lancet  , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Department of Health  , Economic and Social Research Council , Royal College of Physicians  , National Institute for Health Research  , The Academy of Medical Sciences  , National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, The Wellcome Trust 

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