PLANETARY HEALTH WEEKLY

Climate change, now climate crisis, is one of the most crucial and single biggest threats impacting humanity. People across the globe are confronting this issue through their exposure to unusual and extreme weather patterns and eroding ecosystems. The consequences of climate change are intense droughts, water scarcity, wildfires, agricultural disruption, rising sea levels, flooding, ecosystem disruption, and more.  As an educator and engaged scholar, I believe that we are at a defining moment that challenges us to understand deeply about the science and also to act with purpose.

This climate crisis is a human and Earth issue on a global scale, as it intersects with social justice, public health, politics, business viability, economics, and the very fabric of our shared humanity. The solution should be equal to the problem. I’m saying this because the issues we’re facing with climate change are all connected, and so the solutions need also to be connected. This is where sharing information and knowledge, and working together, becomes paramount through individual and community efforts.

We need spaces for collective learning and platforms to explore how informed and community-rooted responses pave the way to a sustainable tomorrow.

Why Climate, Community – and Change Are Interconnected?

When I talk about the climate crisis, I’m not just referring to melting glaciers or rising sea levels. I’m talking about the stories I hear (or don’t hear) in social gatherings and community centers; the silence from lost traditions, the strain on small to large economies, and the resilience I witness in everyday people. Climate, community, and change aren’t just connected; they’re intertwined in the fabric of our lives. Maybe you, too, check the weather every day!

The Ripple Effects of Climate Shifts on Daily Life

It starts subtly: a shorter growing season, water shortages, a sudden flood that washes away not just homes, but histories. Then it grows: food insecurity, rising health risks, migration pressures. These aren’t abstract issues; they show up on our doorsteps, in our schools, and around our kitchen tables. Wildfires are about in many areas, and smoke affects millions, even those far from the fires. Summer enjoyment is affected, if not lost.

Community Resilience and Vulnerability

Some communities bounce back. Others struggle to survive. Why? Because resilience isn’t evenly distributed. Marginalized groups often bear the brunt. Those with the fewest resources face the greatest risks, but even the most wealthy are not immune. These same communities are also engines of innovation and strength when given the information, tools, and platforms they need.

Indigenous and Local Knowledge as a Force for Sustainability

I’ve seen how local and Indigenous knowledge systems offer lessons and solutions that are deeply attuned to the land. These aren’t just cultural stories; they’re living blueprints for adaptation and sustainability. They deserve not only our respect but a central place in decision-making.

What You Can Do: Small Steps, Big Difference?

You don’t need to be a climate scientist to make an impact. Start where you are, and always continue to learn.

• Rethink your commute-bike, walk, or carpool when you can.
• Support local, sustainable farmers and businesses.
• Reduce single-use plastics, food, and energy waste.
• Join or support (or initiate) community clean-ups, tree-plantings, advocacy groups, demonstrations, or petitions.

Let’s Mobilize Knowledge Together

This isn’t a one-person journey. We need thinkers, doers, and dreamers, and that includes you. Whether you’re a student just finding your voice, an educator shaping minds, a business person, or community leader fostering change, there’s space at this table for your ideas, your experiences, and your energy.

Please come to the Planetary Health Weekly to learn and get inspired. Then, let’s build partnerships that span sectors and generations. Let’s co-create solutions that honour both science, art, and our platforms for change.