Global climate connections: How changes to our environment, food systems, and health will shape our
Last month, the Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) and Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (AHS) hosted the “Global climate connections: How changes to our environment, food systems, and health will shape our future” webinar event. The event was held on September 24th, 2020 via WebEx.
The event featured a keynote by World Wildlife Fund Canada President and CEO, Megan Leslie, and panel discussion with the UWaterloo's Zahid Butt and Goretty Dias. Our speakers shared their diverse expertise as they discussed climate change and its impact on the environment, food systems and our health.
The event's opening remarks were presented by Manvi Bhalla, UWaterloo Masters student in the School of Public Health and Health Systems and Graduate President of the Climate Students.
Around the world, the degradation and fragmentation of our natural environments is leading to unprecedented loss of biodiversity and a breakdown of critical ecosystem functions. This both compounds and is compounded by global climate change in a complex system of feedback loops and tipping points that have wide ranging impacts on human health and wellbeing. This webinar focused on how the interconnections between our natural environments, our food systems, and public health can be used to shape a more resilient future and also reduce the impacts of climate change. Speakers explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare these connections, and has been a source of momentum for climate and environmental action.