International Geographical UNion Commission on Health and the Environment
The International Geographical Union's Commission on Health and Environment (IGU CHE) comprises of scientist and professionals in the fields of Health Geography, Environment and Public Health.
IGU CHE Mandate & Strategic Foci:
Members of the IGU Commission on Health and the Environment carry out research on health and health care in the natural and built environment recognizing the importance of gender and diversity in a globalized world.
The strategic foci for the mandate period 2021 to 2024, as agreed by the commission, are:
1. The research on the quality of life, sustainability and health equity with an emphasis on health, healthcare and the environment at various geographic scales;
2. Environmental change: Direct and indirect impacts of land use and climate change on health. Focusing on actions to adapt to associated environmental events and their health consequences that are exacerbated by extreme events;
3. Understanding the drivers and consequences of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to support health system strengthening and societal resilience and equity, including health preparedness & response and participation & governance, focusing specifically on the One Health approach;
4. Research on health in all policies and especially urban health towards a green economy with a specific focus on vulnerable groups and healthy environments;
5. Research on communication and risk behaviour in epidemic situations to scientifically support communication with society to combat fake news and help confront problems of health risk;
6. Promote discussions to highlight intertwined links among global changes, global health, migration and the environment.
These foci reflect the continuation of the previous work by IGU-CHE and the strategic aim to contribute to and further strengthen important international initiatives like Future Earth, One Health, Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment. The strategic foci are also defined given the necessary scientific contributions to the environmental health components during the UN Decade of Action to deliver Sustainable Development Goals. IGU-CHE members are active in many national and international initiatives and continue to represent IGU in these relevant initiatives over the mandate period 2021-2024. They contribute as health geographers to the international efforts to improve global health and global health governance. IGU-CHE provides a platform for its members in collaboration with the members of the various national and regional (health geography) speciality groups to discuss, define and further develop concepts, conceptual frameworks and curricula related to health geography and the emerging fields of global health and planetary health.
IGU CHE Mandate & Strategic Foci:
Members of the IGU Commission on Health and the Environment carry out research on health and health care in the natural and built environment recognizing the importance of gender and diversity in a globalized world.
The strategic foci for the mandate period 2021 to 2024, as agreed by the commission, are:
1. The research on the quality of life, sustainability and health equity with an emphasis on health, healthcare and the environment at various geographic scales;
2. Environmental change: Direct and indirect impacts of land use and climate change on health. Focusing on actions to adapt to associated environmental events and their health consequences that are exacerbated by extreme events;
3. Understanding the drivers and consequences of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to support health system strengthening and societal resilience and equity, including health preparedness & response and participation & governance, focusing specifically on the One Health approach;
4. Research on health in all policies and especially urban health towards a green economy with a specific focus on vulnerable groups and healthy environments;
5. Research on communication and risk behaviour in epidemic situations to scientifically support communication with society to combat fake news and help confront problems of health risk;
6. Promote discussions to highlight intertwined links among global changes, global health, migration and the environment.
These foci reflect the continuation of the previous work by IGU-CHE and the strategic aim to contribute to and further strengthen important international initiatives like Future Earth, One Health, Health and Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment. The strategic foci are also defined given the necessary scientific contributions to the environmental health components during the UN Decade of Action to deliver Sustainable Development Goals. IGU-CHE members are active in many national and international initiatives and continue to represent IGU in these relevant initiatives over the mandate period 2021-2024. They contribute as health geographers to the international efforts to improve global health and global health governance. IGU-CHE provides a platform for its members in collaboration with the members of the various national and regional (health geography) speciality groups to discuss, define and further develop concepts, conceptual frameworks and curricula related to health geography and the emerging fields of global health and planetary health.
