The Human Foundations of Climate Resilience: Mental Health, Culture, Policy, and Action

Climate change is not only transforming environments; it is reshaping mental health, well-being, belonging, identity, and how people imagine the future. This event brings together researchers, policymakers, artists, and community leaders for an integrated conversation moving from evidence to culture to policy to community action. Beginning with emerging evidence on the mental health impacts of climate change, the discussion will explore how culture and the arts help communities make meaning, sustain connection, and respond to loss and uncertainty; consider how mental health, psychosocial well-being, and cultural continuity can be better reflected in climate policy and international environmental frameworks; and examine locally led approaches that translate these ideas into action. Drawing on insights from ongoing initiatives and mobilization around strengthening mental health representation within climate change action, efforts towards strengthening arts, culture and climate-related health through partnership with WHO, the event will ask what it takes to strengthen the human foundations that enable communities not only to withstand climate disruption, but to adapt, recover, and shape more resilient futures.