zoom recording on youtubeBelmont Forum has been working with partners to address global change issues and its associated impacts on public health, particularly heat-related risks, pose significant challenges globally. To address these challenges, Belmont Forum has partnered up with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to present a panel at the Science Summit at the United Nations General Assembly to bring together representatives from Sierra Leone, Brazil, Chile, India, and the USA. This panel discussion aims to identify best practices for co-developing and co-implementing heat and health data resources in collaboration with communities and to ensure equitable partnerships in this process. A particular focus will be on urban heat islands, and how the U.S. government through the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) has collaborated with international partners and community organizations to map the hottest neighborhoods of communities across the world.
The session will delve into the multifaceted aspects of heat and health data resources, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and equitable collaborations. Panelists from diverse backgrounds, including academia, public health agencies, local communities, and international organizations, will engage in a constructive dialogue to share their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned.
Key discussion points will include:
1. Engaging communities as key stakeholders in the co-development and co-implementation of heat and health data resources.
2. Identifying effective approaches to collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on heat-related health impacts.
3. Addressing data gaps and promoting data accessibility for vulnerable populations.
4. Ensuring ethical considerations and privacy protection in data collection and sharing.
5. Enhancing interdisciplinary collaborations to bridge gaps between climate science, public health, and community engagement.
6. Fostering international partnerships and knowledge exchange to accelerate progress in heat and health research.
By drawing upon the panelists' diverse expertise and perspectives from different continents, this session will provide valuable insights into the best practices and innovative approaches that can be tailored to specific regional contexts. The discussion will emphasize the need for inclusive and equitable partnerships to ensure that the development and implementation of heat and health data resources benefit all communities, particularly those most disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. Additionally this panel will foster a collaborative and participatory approach to address the urgent challenges posed by heat-related health risks. The outcomes of this discussion will contribute to the development of guidelines, strategies, and policy recommendations for co-developing and co-implementing heat and health data resources in an equitable and inclusive manner.
