Story·24 September 2026
Climate and Health | Our priorities | Wellcome
Climate change is a global health problem. Learn how research and science-based solutions can prevent it from getting worse and protect the communities most at risk.
The problem
Climate change is an escalating health crisis that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. Health research can help us understand the wider impacts of the climate crisis and how these are distributed across society. We urgently need comprehensive, transdisciplinary research to understand these impacts and translate findings into effective action.
Our goals
A thriving climate and health community
A global network of experts work together – from funders to researchers to those delivering real-world action – to protect human health from the impacts of climate change, now and in the future.
Better understanding of how climate change affects health
Robust research in diverse communities helps us understand the distributed impacts of climate change on health and define the climate actions that work best.
Research evidence shapes policy and practical solutions
Health takes centre stage in climate change discussions everywhere, driving urgent action that prevents harm and helps people adapt.
Health-focused climate action: our vision for climate and health
Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, shares our vision for a world where catastrophic climate breakdown is averted and human health can flourish.
How we’re doing this
Supporting the climate and health field
We’re strengthening the climate and health field by diversifying funding streams, backing new partnerships, building research networks and making it easier for researchers from different disciplines to work together. This brings more people and ideas into the conversation and helps to turn research into action.
Funding research
We fund research that fills gaps in our understanding of how climate change is affecting our health and how we can use this information to develop practical and affordable solutions in the places where they are most needed. This includes research into the health impacts of both mitigation and adaption interventions and policies.
Our ambition is that this research generates the evidence that is needed to design locally relevant policies that are effective in protecting health from the impacts of climate change.
Advocating for health-centred climate action
We use research and evidence to drive urgent climate action with human health at the centre. We do this by working with international institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charities, governments and affected communities. We also fund research projects with embedded policy and communications expertise to make sure that we’re supporting research that is relevant for policy action at both local and global scale.
Through policy work, communication programmes, community engagement and cultural partnerships, we’re working to inform and accelerate climate action based on science.
Funding opportunities
Our Climate and Health programme supports research that looks at how climate change affects people’s health and what can be done about it.
Our Discovery Research programme funds fields and disciplines seeking new knowledge on life, health and wellbeing, including questions related to climate and health.
Contract opportunities
We invite organisations to work with us on building the health evidence that can shape practical solutions to climate change.
Our work in action
Our team
Alan Dangour Director of Climate and Health Wellcome
Madeleine Thomson Head of Impacts and Adaptation Wellcome
Modi Mwatsama Head of Capacity and Field Development Wellcome
Rachel Huxley Head of Mitigation Wellcome
Garth Davies Head of Communications, Climate and Health Wellcome Connect with Garth : LinkedIn
Haidee Bell Head of Equity Partnering, Climate and Health Wellcome Connect with Haidee : LinkedIn
Charlotte Brady Head of Strategy Integration, Climate and Health Wellcome
Arthy Hartwell Head of Policy, Climate and Health Wellcome
Latest report
Designing global indicators for climate change adaptation
This policy briefing discusses the development of indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Learn how these indicators will help prioritise health equity and positive health outcomes in response to climate change.
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Originally published by Wellcome