Summer 2024 Fellows

For the Summer 2024 semester, one selected CHI Research Fellow will be supporting work on the free, local, immediate, and persuasive co-benefits that accompany climate mitigation actions. 

The impacts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate are a continued and pressing threat. Actions targeted at mitigating climate change, through the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, often produce long-term and diffuse global health benefits associated with reduced climate impacts. Additionally, changes in systems that burn less fossil fuels offer local and immediate benefits that arise due to changes in exposure. Some of these local and immediate environmental, health, and equity benefits include cleaner air, expanded green space, improved physical activity, and reduced noise, among other societal improvements such as economic savings.

Co-benefits have emerged as a tool used by various organizations as opportunities to pair GHG mitigation with other positive, more proximal outcomes in order to catalyze public support for aggressive GHG mitigation efforts. Effectively communicating the co-benefits of climate action could prove useful for decision-makers to decidedly take swift action to reduce the impacts of climate change.

The selected fellow will help develop case studies showcasing climate actions that have been undertaken in focus areas such as, energy, transportation, freight, food/nutrition, agriculture, etc and local benefits that have resulted from these actions (any scale; national, urban, etc; US or global). The Fellow will:

• Identify 5-10 co-benefit stories and conduct necessary research, interviews, and outreach to gather information; 
• Synthesize information to understand and assess how climate action can lead to improved health through co-benefits, such as expanded access to green space, cleaner air, reductions in noise, and improved physical activity; and
• Use both a quantitative and journalistic approach to develop deliverable products that effectively communicate the health co-benefits of climate action.

 

 

Jordi Fischbach

About Jordi: Jordi is a first-year graduate student at GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health, pursuing an MPH in Environmental Health Science and Policy. He is passionate about understanding the direct and indirect effects of climate change on human health. Jordi has contributed to research published by the Global Food Institute, exploring the impact of climate change on global food systems. Additionally, he has worked with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) on evaluating the capacity of climate adaptive practices to mitigate climate change's effects on HIV prevention. Jordi is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to advance climate action and public health initiatives, with a particular focus on environmental sustainability and justice.