The 2026 Yale Forum on Climate Change and Health

On February 25, 2026, the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health (YCCCH) is planning the 2026 Yale Forum on Climate Change and Health, a full-day convening designed to showcase the latest research on climate change and health and to foster constructive dialogue on policies and strategies from local to national scales to protect public health from climate impacts. With a focus on strengthening transdisciplinary collaboration at Yale and beyond, the Forum will bring together Yale faculty, students, and staff and local and federal policy experts, alongside 8 to 10 invited speakers across the eastern United States.

The forum will start with an opening keynote by Prof. Patrick Kinney from Boston University, followed by three panel presentations on the following topics: 1) Health and Extreme Weather Events; 2) Urban Health and Adaptation; and 3) Health Benefits of Climate Polices.

Info: By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. Urban populations increasingly face overlapping and cascading climate hazards, such as extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and poor air quality. These hazards interact with long-standing social and structural inequities to amplify health risks. This panel will examine how compounding climate events affect health in urban settings. Based on the most up-to-date epidemiological, exposure science, and urban health research, panelists will discuss how climate hazards intersect and challenge traditional single-exposure approaches to policy. Speakers will also explore how cities can better anticipate and respond to compound climate risks through improved surveillance, planning, and targeted interventions.

Info: Understanding the health benefits of climate adaptation is crucial for guiding effective policy and investment decisions. This panel will explore approaches to assessing the health impacts and co-benefits of adaptation strategies across sectors and will address methodological challenges in evaluating adaptation outcomes. Panelists will present research that quantifies how adaptation measures, such as heat mitigation, air quality improvements, and resilient infrastructure, can reduce morbidity and mortality while advancing health equity. Panelists will also consider how health impact assessments and cost-benefit analyses can be better integrated into city/state planning processes to support evidence-based decision-making.

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Host or Publisher Yale Center on Climate Change and Health