The World Health Organization projects that climate change will lead to an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050, with Africa and Asia bearing the brunt of these impacts. Along with direct threats to life from emergencies like flooding, heatwaves, and storms, climate change impacts food systems, water resources, air quality, livelihoods, and other key contributors to human health.
The intersection of climate and health offers a unique opportunity to harness the power of data to inform policy and drive action. New data sources can provide a clearer picture of how the changing climate is affecting people’s lives, shining a light on better approaches to help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these threats.
The data science tools and skills developed through the Africa CAN Fellowship are already making a difference across Africa, not just within the Fellows’ host institutions, but also in other projects focused on climate resilience, public health, and sustainable development. It’s exciting to see this kind of homegrown expertise being shared and scaled where it’s most needed.