CONFERENCE THEMES
1. Equitable Urban Futures in a Changing Climate
Explore the intersection of climate change and social determinants of health in urban settings, emphasizing equitable solutions that prioritize vulnerable populations and the urban poor.
Key Topics: Health disparities in climate impacts, inclusive urban policy frameworks, community-led health equity and resilience initiatives, neighborhood determinants of health, community-driven engagement and participation models, innovative intervention approaches and/or funding models for more equitable health outcomes in the face of climate change.
2. Mental Health and Children's Well-Being
Address the often-overlooked psychological effects of climate change, including stress and trauma related to extreme weather events, economic disruption, and longer-term climate impacts and anxieties.
Key Topics: Mental health services provision post-disaster, strategies for strengthening community connection, community mental health strategies, and resilience-building through social support networks.
3. Building Climate-Resilient and Adaptable Urban Environments
Focus on integrating resilience into urban planning and development to create cities that are prepared for and can adapt to climate change while maintaining public health for all residents with a focus on upstream environmental prevention.
Key Topics: Green and blue infrastructure, nature-based solutions and biomimicry, innovative WASH infrastructure and water efficiency technologies, sustainable urban planning and design, active transportation planning, disaster risk reduction, air quality, pollution, and respiratory health, urban heat islands and cardiovascular risks, food systems, nutrition, and resilience in urban governance.
4. Strengthening Health Systems for Climate Action
Investigate the links between human, animal, and environmental health, examining how climate-driven environmental changes catalyze a rise in chronic diseases and zoonotic diseases within urban ecosystems.
Key Topics: Climate change and zoonotic spillover, urbanization and chronic health conditions, eco-health and disease prevention, public health infrastructure and ecosystem integrity, intersectoral collaboration for One health.
5. Environmental Stressors on Infectious Diseases
Discuss the dual role of health systems in mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects, while maintaining and improving public health infrastructure and services to manage the effects of climate change, ensuring resilience and equity in urban health delivery.
Key Topics: Climate-informed disease surveillance systems, resilient health infrastructure development, low-carbon healthcare delivery, health systems emergency preparedness, innovative financing for climate health interventions, and community healthcare networks.
6. Africa’s Path to a Climate Resilient Urban Future
Showcase Morocco's leadership in climate adaptation and mitigation within the urban health context, setting an example for Africa and the world.
Key Topics: National climate and health action plans, urban-rural linkage strategies, renewable energy in healthcare, post-earthquake resilience planning and Morocco's cultural approach to climate resilience.