Media contact:
- Yadira Galindo
–
y2galindo@ucsd.edu
Published Date
Media contact:
- Yadira Galindo
–
y2galindo@ucsd.edu
Topics covered:
- Public Health
- Climate Change
- Environmental Health
Article Content
This commentary by Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, a professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego with decades of research experience environmental health and climate change, expands on the his work that was recently highlighted in an article in the Global Health Matters newsletter (volume 25, number 5) by the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health.
The commonly cited phrase, “Think Globally, Act Locally,” has profound relevance in the context of environmental health, climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Climate change is one component of the broader and more encompassing concepts of planetary health and the Anthropocene, both of which emphasize the interconnectedness of human activity and the Earth’s natural systems.
Extreme weather events are arguably the most significant public health challenge of the 21st century, and its impacts are already evident through increasingly severe heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, hurricanes and other environmental disasters. A defining characteristic of these threats is that they are rarely driven solely by local conditions. Rather, they emerge from large-scale global processes, including changing atmospheric patterns and climate phenomena such as El Niño, whose effects are felt across continents.
Inspired by this perspective, my research has focused on understanding these risks, quantifying their impacts, and identifying public health and policy interventions that can mitigate their consequences in regions facing even greater environmental challenges than those currently experienced in San Diego or elsewhere in the United States.
One of the regions at greatest risk from extreme weather events and other planetary health threats is the Arab region of Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). The term SWANA increasingly replaces the historically colonial designation of the “Middle East” and more accurately reflects the geography and diversity of the region. SWANA faces some of the world’s most severe environmental vulnerabilities, including extreme water scarcity, very low precipitation, frequent dust storms and associated air pollution, and some of the highest summer temperatures ever recorded
To address these challenges, I have led collaborative efforts through two National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded centers based at UC San Diego: The Global Center on Climate Change and Water Energy Food Health Systems and the GeoHealth Hub on Climate Change and Health in the Middle East and North Africa. Working alongside colleagues from nine universities across the United States, Jordan, Morocco and Lebanon, our work brings together engineers, data scientists, atmospheric scientists, public health researchers, policymakers and community-based organizations through a framework grounded in team science and systems thinking. This multidisciplinary approach is essential for addressing the complexity of climate-related threats that transcend traditional disciplinary and geographic boundaries.
A central goal of this work is to strengthen local and regional capacity to understand, prepare for, and respond to climate-related health risks. At the same time, these collaborations provide valuable lessons that can inform preparedness strategies here in the United States, where many communities are increasingly confronting similar environmental challenges.
Through sustained engagement with national and regional media, as well as policymakers, we have elevated awareness of these issues and fostered dialogue on adaptation strategies needed to protect population health. These efforts include evaluating drought-resilient and nutritionally rich crops, examining the economic feasibility of solar-powered desalination systems, and supporting innovative greywater recycling technologies capable of reducing household water consumption by as much as 30%. Community engagement remains the cornerstone of all these activities, ensuring that local knowledge, priorities and lived experiences guide both research and implementation.
Importantly, the knowledge generated through this global work has direct applications for our local communities. By studying environmental challenges in regions already experiencing severe consequences of climate change, we can better anticipate and prepare for the growing risks of drought, flooding, extreme heat and water scarcity in San Diego and throughout California. As with many public health challenges, the populations most vulnerable to environmental hazards are often those with the fewest resources, the least access to information and the weakest protective infrastructure.
This reality has motivated our engagement with communities throughout San Diego County. In Southeast San Diego, we are working with residents affected by the devastating floods of 2024, many of whom continue to experience long-term displacement and recovery challenges. In East County, we partner with immigrant and refugee communities that often share cultural backgrounds, social vulnerabilities and preparedness challenges similar to those of communities across the SWANA region. These shared experiences create opportunities for meaningful exchange of knowledge, adaptation strategies and resilience-building practices.
Ultimately, the principle of thinking globally and acting locally is not merely a slogan but a guiding philosophy of our work. By engaging with communities across the globe, we contribute to solutions that improve health and resilience internationally while simultaneously generating knowledge that strengthens preparedness and adaptation in our own communities. In doing so, we help ensure that the populations most at risk, whether abroad or here in San Diego, are better equipped to face the environmental and public health challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Learn more about research and education at UC San Diego in: Climate Change
Read more news about: The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science
Topics covered:
- Public Health
- Climate Change
- Environmental Health
