Background

Rising temperatures pose increasing risks to maternal and child health. However, current research struggles to separate natural climate variations from human-caused climate change. GHAP addresses this by using advanced data science techniques to provide a clearer picture of climate change's health impacts.

Aims and Objectives

GHAP focuses on improving how we measure the health effects of climate change and translating those findings into actionable policies, from local to global levels. Specifically, the project aims to:

• Expand Data: Collect and harmonise climate and health data from Africa, Europe, and Latin America using advanced analysis platforms.
• Measure Climate Impacts: Use software to precisely assess how human-caused climate change affects health.
• Integrate Indicators: Develop indicators that can be used in health monitoring systems to track climate change impacts and adaptation efforts.

A New Approach to Tackling Climate Change

GHAP combines the expertise of top researchers with extensive data to create a unified effort. Our approach uses innovative methods and digital tools to make a real difference in how we understand and respond to the health effects of climate change. This project is not just about gathering data—it's about providing solutions that help communities adapt to the increasing risks of heat.

Methods

GHAP will use advanced digital platforms to analyse how heat exposure affects health outcomes like preterm births. It will focus on vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and young children, and provide near real-time data to help policymakers make informed decisions.

Project Overview: Key Stages

GHAP is structured into four key stages, each contributing to our understanding of climate change's impact on health:

How GHAP Contributes to Climate Research

GHAP makes five key contributions:

• Identifying Risks: Our research highlights how climate change affects pregnant women and children, guiding resources to those most at risk.
• Accelerating Research: Our digital tools streamline climate impact analysis, moving towards near-real-time results.
• Setting Global Standards: We create new "attribution indicators" that become part of health monitoring systems worldwide.
• Optimising Resources: By evaluating different adaptation strategies, we help policymakers make decisions on where to invest resources/wisely.
• Supporting Legal Action: Our data provides strong evidence for legal cases related to climate change's health impacts. (offering solid evidence for to hold governments and corporations accountable for climate-related health issues).

Anticipated Impact

GHAP will deliver crucial insights into the health impacts of climate change, particularly for maternal and child health. Its tools and indicators tools will help and support local and national governments plan for healthcare needs related to climate change. The project's findings also feed into global systems like the Lancet Countdown, which monitors the impact of climate change on health, ensuring resources are directed to those most at risk.

Partners

GHAP is a global collaboration, bringing together experts from leading universities such as the University of Cape Town, ISGlobal, Leeds University and Trinity College Dublin, as well as renowned organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the Lancet Countdown.

This network ensures that GHAP's findings will inform policy decisions worldwide. With nearly a decade of experience in analysing climate-health data, the Lancet Countdown team plays a crucial role in ensuring GHAP's research is put to practical use.

Funding and Programme Acknowledgement

The Global Heat Attribution Project (GHAP) is part of the Wellcome Trust's Attriverse programme, which focuses on creating digital tools for understanding health impacts. It is supported by Wellcome Trust grant [309105/Z/24/Z]. For more information, visit the Attriverse programme.