Dr. Jonathan Patz, professor and director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, will be joining the Graduate Institute for six months as a Visiting Senior Fellow with the Global Health Programme (GHP). Professor Patz has devoted much of his career to addressing the multifactorial issue of health and climate change and has served for over fifteen years as a lead author for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)for over fifteen years, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore.  He is also the Founding President of the International Association for Ecology and Health, has co-chaired the health expert panel of the U.S. National Assessment on Climate Change, and was a Convening Lead Author for the United Nations/World Bank Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 

 

Soon after arriving in Geneva, Professor Patz spoke at the World Health Organization’s first Conference on Health and Climate, where he joined the GHP’s Director, Ilona Kickbusch, in addressing the topic of promoting health while mitigating climate change.  He outlined that using cleaner energy to reduce emissions in electric power generation can result in convincing health co-benefits. Professor Patz will also lend his experience and expertise to a public event to be hosted by the GHP on 27 October 2014 at the Maison de la Paix. 

 

The Global Health Programme warmly welcomes Professor Patz, wishes him an enriching stay in Geneva and looks forward to his valuable collaboration.