New £10m centre to tackle the health impacts of climate change

The University of Exeter has announced the creation of a groundbreaking research centre aimed at tackling the health impacts of climate change and the inequalities created by them.

The £10 million Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), brings together the expertise of key partners, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the National Trust, Forest Research, and the Met Office. 

Based in Cornwall, the Centre will focus on developing solutions to the well-documented negative health impacts linked to climate and environmental changes.

From rising instances of heatstroke to the links between air pollution and heart disease and the risk of new pandemics, the Centre will work to understand and mitigate the health risks exacerbated by climate change.

A key focus will be ensuring that measures taken to address these risks do not widen the health inequalities affecting communities already vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The Cornwall-based Centre will act as a hub, with staff collaborating across the UK to advance scientific research, provide policy advice, and foster innovation. 

Professor Tim Taylor, who leads the Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions, highlighted the importance of these efforts: “Climate change is having major impacts on our health—whether that’s directly through heat-related illnesses or indirectly through food systems. By designing better urban environments and enhancing green spaces, we can both reduce emissions and respond to emerging health threats.”

Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, expressed pride in the Centre’s establishment, emphasising the interdisciplinary approach it will adopt. 

She said: "The Centre will unite researchers from our well-established European Centre for Environment and Human Health with those across disciplines such as humanities, computer science, epidemiology, and more. Importantly, it will build on our partnerships with UKHSA, Forest Research, the National Trust, and the Met Office to ensure real-world impact and solutions that make a difference to people’s lives.”

The Centre’s wide-ranging research will include studies on the connections between mental health and climate and projects exploring health outcomes linked to air pollution and extreme weather events.

Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Scientific Advisor at UKHSA, explained: “Our Health Effects of Climate Change report confirms that climate change is not only a future health threat; these risks are already present. The decisions we make today, based on research like this, will shape the climate legacy we leave for future generations.”

Partners like the National Trust and Forest Research will play crucial roles in integrating research findings into practical applications. 

The National Trust’s Director of Science and Nature, Professor Rosie Hails, noted that interventions across urban and rural landscapes are already underway to mitigate climate impacts. 

Forest Research’s Principal Social Scientist Liz O’Brien added that interdisciplinary studies exploring the health-climate connection are critical for creating an evidence base that will guide future policy and practice.