ABSTRACT: Overall
The goal of the Center for Climate and Health glObal Research on Disasters (CORD) is to develop
action-oriented strategies to protect health and build resilience in climate-related disasters. Climate
change is increasing the frequency and severity of disasters, and under-served populations of the Global
South are most at risk for resulting health calamities. CORD will address the critical unmet need for data that
accurately reports current climate-associated health outcomes and supports the development of feasible,
actionable, culturally appropriate Anticipatory Action plans to prevent and/or ameliorate these health impacts in
climate-related disasters. The objective is to build research infrastructure to enable cutting-edge research in 6
case studies conducted in under-served at risk communities in the Global South. The rationale is that this
global, trans-disciplinary, virtual consortium of 7 universities from around the world will provide a unique and
valuable source of data and perspectives that will inform policy, practice, and science relevant to under-served
populations. The overall aims are to: 1) build transdisciplinary, transnational partnerships between academia,
policy makers, community members, and practitioners; 2) build data analysis tools and methodologies for data
collection, community-engaged research, compilation, analysis, and communication; and 3) build human
capacity to effectively collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and geographies. CORD will have 4 operating
cores. An Administrative Core will provide strategies and organizational structures to establish, manage and
support CORD. A Research Project will study Anticipatory Action systems, differentiate health impacts,
delineate community actions, and determine the role of health governance systems in the target communities.
A Community Engagement Core will establish collaborations with community leaders, humanitarian
practitioners, and policymakers in order to effect social change. An InnovatEd Leaders Network Core will build
research capacity by developing and supporting the next generation of researchers, practitioners and policy
makers in climate, health and disasters. The proposed work is innovative in its multi-national leadership
design, its study of novel Anticipatory Action systems for disasters, and its commitment to Future Leaders and
community engagement. The proposed work is significant because it will establish novel trans-disciplinary
methodologies to work with communities to document health impacts on different populations and the
contextual and governance foundation that is necessary for successful adaptation to climate change. These
results will influence the design of climate programs by the collaborating partners and will set the stage for
future research on these topics in the context of other adaptation interventions. The expected outcome is that
the established partnerships will prevent negative health outcomes during disasters and promote health equity
in under-served regions around the world.