Researching Climate Health Solutions

Critical thinking in a time of complex challenges

An integrated interdisciplinary team of academics, analysts, other professionals and public groups come together in the Net Positive Centre. The goal is to deliver novel, impactful research on climate change and health. With a focus on environmental-social-health inequalities across the life course, our work is responsive to emerging priorities for the UK.

With expertise cutting across a range of disciplines from classics to economics, from climate modelling to epidemiology, anthropology to geography, data science to public health, we are uniquely placed to deliver innovative, impactful research.

Research topics

Our Centre activities will, by nature, be more flexible than standard research projects. Many activities cut across topics and are underpinned by our foundational principles.

Urban Systems

We see urban systems as key to tackling climate and health challenges. Our work focuses on making cities more resilient, healthy, and fair—through better housing, transport, green and blue spaces, and infrastructure.

Food Systems

The way we produce our food impacts significantly on climate change - and climate change will have an impact on food security. We are investigating scenarios such as changes in agricultural practice, land use, trade and sustainable food policies and their role in mitigation and adaptation, and resulting health and societal impacts.

Green & Blue Infrastructure

At the Net Positive Centre, green and blue infrastructure—like parks, trees, rivers, and wetlands—play a vital role in making communities healthier and more climate-resilient. We explore how these natural spaces can reduce risks, improve wellbeing, and support biodiversity.

Conceptualising

We are developing an understanding of the complexity of climate-health links. We are using AI based methods to help identify and investigate emerging threats. Task forces will be convened to bring experts together to horizon scan and explore specific issues around climate change and health.

Tools and Evaluation

We are conducting evaluation of the health impacts of adaptation and mitigation options. We are looking at the business case for options, drawing on economic methods. We are developing new tools to inform policy.