The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, in collaboration with its Lancet Countdown South America Regional Centre, based out of Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru, would like to deliver an interactive three-part event to inspire, inform and engage with the planetary health community across the globe, with a specific focus on building closer collaborations within and between the academic and clinical planetary health community in South America.

The first part of this event (inspire) will be focused on sharing best practice research activity across the global Lancet Countdown network, with a keynote address from Professor Anthony Costello, of the Institute of Global Health, UCL, supported by further short TED-style talks from regional Lancet Countdown centres, including South America and Asia, as well as representation from Small Island Developing States.

The second part (inform) will move into a spotlight panel discussion on the opportunities for greater research, communications and policy engagement activity across South America, bringing together academic, clinical, political, indigenous, and NGO voices from Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and beyond to discuss the issues and data most relevant to the region, and the challenges/opportunities for further research, communications and policy engagement activity.

The third part of the session (engage) will move into facilitated break-out groups focused on cross-pollination of communities, research themes, and ideas across: 1) COVID-19 and infectious diseases 2) Inequalities and climate change and 3) communications and policy engagement in the year of Pandemic Recovery and COP26. Each group will be facilitated by a lead from the Lancet Countdown in that area of expertise. The focus will be on striking up connections between audience members, identifying opportunities for future collaboration, and idea exchanges.


Alice McGushin (Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change)