CLIMAR Network launches!
Posted by Emma Lamb
7 February 2025The CLIMAR Network, funded through the UKRI’s Tackling Infections strategic theme, launched online on 9 January 2025, with over 120 academics and sector specialists joining from across the world to hear about the vision and framework behind the new network.
The aim of this network is to explore the intersection of climate change, planetary health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the impact of humans on these complex interactions. This will be supported through collaboration between researchers, business leaders and policy makers to inform mitigation and adaptation strategies, in addition to other best practices.
The transdisciplinarity essential to this work is supported by the framework of the Planetary Boundaries and applies themes and concepts informed by the Planetary Health Educational Pillars. Considering AMR drivers at a “planetary scale” facilitates collaboration across disciplines and sectors that can build the evidence base for interventions that control the development of AMR and its impacts on health and society.
Network lead William Gaze (University of Exeter) introduced CLIMAR’s vision, followed by Co-Lead Jenni Cole (Royal Holloway) speaking on Planetary Health. Co-Lead Lea Berrang Ford (UKHSA) introduced the UKHSA’s Centre for Climate and Health Security, before Bianca Van Bavel (University of Leeds) and Kelly Moon (University of Leeds) discussed their recent paper, ‘Intersections between climate change and antimicrobial resistance: a systematic scoping review’, which was published by the Lancet Planetary Health in Dec 202 and provides invaluable insights to feed into the early shaping of the CLIMAR Network. Network Manager Emma Lamb provided insight into the makeup of the CLIMAR network itself, formed from 225 members both in the UK and worldwide. Finally, William Gaze introduced the plan for CLIMAR working groups.
You can catch up on the recording of this event below.