Research

Effects of Polar Climate Change on Global Health and Healthcare (WT)

Arctic Basecamp is a proud partner in the £2.3 million Wellcome Trust-funded project, "Effects of Polar Climate Change on Global Health and Healthcare," led by the University of Exeter.

This groundbreaking initiative explores how polar tipping points—critical thresholds in the Arctic and Antarctic—threaten human health and healthcare systems globally.

With 9 of the world’s 16 climate tipping points located in the polar regions, and 5 likely to trigger before 2°C warming, the stakes are higher than ever. The loss of Arctic summer sea ice is inevitable, driving cascading risks to health, food security, and critical infrastructure.
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Over three years, the project will:
  • 1.
    Enhance Risk Models: Incorporate polar science into health analytics to reveal hidden risks.
  • 2.
    Raise Awareness: Engage policymakers, healthcare leaders, and communities in vulnerable regions.
  • 3.
    Develop Adaptation Pathways: Equip decision-makers with actionable strategies to protect health systems.
Gail Whiteman, Arctic Basecamp’s Executive Director, emphasizes: 
"Rapid changes in the polar regions are driving global health risks. Policymakers need science-based insights to act boldly and avert catastrophe."
By addressing the underreported health impacts of polar change, this initiative aligns science, policy, and action to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.