Health in a Changing Environment: Impacts and Adaptation in the WWAMI Region

Abstract

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of climate-sensitive hazards, such as wildfire smoke and extreme heat. Climate-sensitive hazards pose an urgent threat to population health and require a coordinated response from the public health and healthcare systems. The University of Washington REACH Center’s Community EngagementCore (CEC) hosted a virtual symposium on July 30, 2025, to discuss climate-sensitive hazards, disproportionately impacted populations, risk reduction strategies, facilitators and barriers of those strategies, and next steps. The Health in a Changing Environment symposium convened 29 clinical practitioners, public health practitioners, and researchers from across five Western US states.