CCH researchers use environmental health, epidemiology, biology, data science, economics, geospatial sciences, infectious disease and more disciplines to understand the ways in which the environment affects human health.
Much of the United States has declared multiple heat advisories so far this summer. Ahead of the first heat wave in New England, Patricia Fabian joined the NPR show "All Things Considered" to discuss the ways in which extreme heat can affect vulnerable populations, and how best to prepare and respond to heat emergencies. Professor […]
Research from Madeleine Scammell is featured in a June 2025 piece in Nature: How a mysterious epidemic of kidney disease is killing thousands of young men., which discusses the epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) in Central America. CKDu affects people aged 20 and 50 years who often have no other known […]
The May 2025 publication from the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy: Special Issue on Climate Change and Health explores the unique opportunities and challenges cities encounter in promoting public health in a changing climate. Alumna Quinn Adams served as a guest editor. The issue includes exciting contributions from Quinn Adams, Gregory Wellenius, Neil […]
On June 18, 2025, the Center for Climate & Health and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) hosted a symposium: "Fostering Collaborations: A Symposium to Advance Equitable Heat Health Actions" to bring together regional stakeholders including state and municipal governments, academics, healthcare institutions, community-based organizations, foundations, and advocacy groups in the Greater Boston region to foster […]
A paper led by Ian Smith (Earth & Environment) showed that given a constrained budget, a strategy that combines addition of cool roofs and new trees is optimal for reducing vulnerability weighted excess heat exposure in Boston. The study quantifies the changes in tree canopy coverage and cool roof solutions in Boston that would maximize […]
A new study led by CCH Research Data Analyst Zach Popp uses applied statistical and geospatial methods to map the intersections of shifting demographics, including social vulnerabilities, with increased warming predicted for mid-century across the US. This novel research combines methodology from climate science to understand future heat extremes, demography to track population change, and […]
Forecasters are predicting an "above-normal" hurricane season in the Atlantic for 2025, while workforce cuts driven by the Trump Administration at federal agencies FEMA and NOAA will affect disaster response. “Reducing the staff that are working to make weather forecasts more accurate and effective, while also making cuts to the agency charged with helping people […]
With support from the Hariri Institute, the Center for Climate and Health and the BU URBAN program co-hosted a symposium on December, 6 2024 to showcase leading research at the intersection of climate change and human health drawn from across Boston University with particular focus on BU research that is relevant, actionable, and directly connected […]
The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, urbanization and worsening air pollution are major contributing factors to the health burden of climate change. Members of the Center for Climate and Health are leaders in innovative and actionable climate and health research with a mission to reduce the health impacts from climate change, especially in our most vulnerable populations.
Using research produced within the School of Public Health and broader BU community, the Center for Climate and Health aids policy makers and supports adaptation and mitigation efforts through research translation and communication. The Center for Climate and Health divides our priorities across three areas: research, training, and translation, while promoting and facilitating collaboration across departments