Global Climate Health Survey Partners Mobilize for Community Impact #TeachToReach (5 February 2025)

# Global Climate and Health Survey Partners Mobilize for Community Impact Health professionals and community leaders gathered on February 5, 2025, to advance a groundbreaking global climate and health survey initiative. The virtual check-in session brought together participants from multiple continents to discuss dissemination strategies for reaching frontline health workers and communities most affected by climate change. ## Survey to Guide Major New Funding Program Joanna Sanchez from Grand Challenges Canada revealed that the survey will inform a significant new climate and health funding program. "This is going to be a very exciting year for us," Sanchez explained. "The survey will guide us as we develop this new funding program, expected to launch between January and March of 2026." The initiative represents an unprecedented approach to program development. "We are here to learn, listen, and take inputs from local communities," Sanchez emphasized. "We have never done quite like this before, taking experiences from those at the frontlines of the climate and health crisis to guide funding priorities." ## Global Partners Unite for Grassroots Engagement The survey has rapidly gained support from major global organizations. Originally launched as a partnership between Grand Challenges Canada and the Geneva Learning Foundation, it has expanded to include multilateral organizations, NGOs, and international funders. The initiative was recently featured in The Lancet Global Health, accompanied by an expert panel representing every continent. ## Community Health Workers Share Climate Impact Experiences Participants described stark realities of climate change effects on healthcare delivery. Alaouiatu from the Nanani Women and Youth Development Foundation highlighted specific challenges: "We have a lot of rivers and streams, and it is a barrier to our health professionals in crossing those streams to reach settlements to deliver vaccines or medications." ## Strategic Dissemination Plans Emerge Health leaders outlined concrete plans for sharing the survey. Kingsley Kofi Nignere, from Ghana's Community Youth Development Foundation, detailed his organization's approach: "I will share with Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, which is made up of 150 members, and Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Climate Change, with 100 members." Paul Oche, working with Malaria Consortium in Nigeria, emphasized reaching diverse sectors: "I will be sharing with my professional colleagues and coursemates in health economics, as well as those in energy and gas and green energy sectors for their perspectives." ## Looking Ahead The survey results will be presented publicly between September and October 2025. Partners are encouraged to complete organizational applications and document their dissemination efforts through a structured process that includes sharing across multiple platforms and tracking reach. The initiative emphasizes three primary areas of investigation: - Observable climate changes in local communities - Health impacts of these changes - Barriers to protecting community health As Mario Chazidamianos noted during the session, "Teach to Reach is turning into something more - a network of proactive professionals looking to take care of the world."