CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH (http://www.openacademy-davos.ch). Climate Change and Health are closely linked. For instance, a recent study by Gehring et al. (2009) shows that exposure to traffic-related air pollution seems to cause asthma in children. On the other hand it is a well established fact that climate change and agriculture – and with it food production – influence each other. Turning forests into farmland releases greenhouse gases and causes temperature to rise. On the long run, the latter affects the water household and water availability worldwide. Already, conflicts over natural resources are a reality. And, climate change may also alter the spreading and living conditions for pests and diseases that will have to be met by future health care and public health concepts.

Together with distinguished experts of climate change and human health research we will investigate and learn how environmental conditions and human health interact with each other and how expertise in various fields is needed to successfully address this complex topic.