“The MENA faces a significant gap in climate-health research, policy integration, and healthcare preparedness.”
The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures posing serious health risks. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional framework for 2023-2029, the EMR emits only 8.25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, but its temperatures and other climatic hazards are changing twice as fast as in the rest of the world. The effects of these hazards on health are substantial, resulting in more extreme weather events, an increase in cases of non-communicable diseases, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.
Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized as critical public health challenges. However, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region lacks sufficient awareness, research, and policy action to address these issues. Health systems across the region are underprepared to combat health risks driven by extreme temperatures, air pollution, resource scarcity, and other environmental factors.
Exploring the Nexus of Climate, Health, and Environment
To address the intersection of climate change, environmental pollution, and human health, with a specific focus on the unique challenges faced by the MENA region, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) is scheduled to host its inaugural conference, CHE2025, under the theme “Exploring the Nexus of Climate, Health, and Environment” on October 25-26, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.
The conference will feature plenary sessions, expert panels, and an interactive poster session where participants will explore evidence-based strategies for mitigating climate-related health impacts and engage with practical solutions in areas such as sustainable healthcare, innovation in patient care, and urban design. CHE2025 aims to equip attendees with actionable insights to strengthen resilience and advance climate-health integration in research, policy, and practice.
Key conference themes include the impact of climate change and environmental pollution on human health and the role of environmental toxins, especially in relation to chronic diseases. Other areas of focus include sustainable urban planning and healthcare delivery, the food-energy-water-health nexus, and strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in healthcare systems.
The conference is directed by Dr. Sadeer Al-Kindi, a WCM-Q alumnus and preventive and imaging cardiologist at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in the United States, and Dr. Nasrin Mesaeli, an associate professor of biochemistry at WCM-Q.
Highlighting the urgency of addressing health challenges related to climate change in the MENA region, Dr. Al-Kindi said: “Climate change and environmental degradation contribute to a growing burden of disease through pathways such as extreme heat, poor air quality, vector-borne illnesses, and food and water insecurity. These impacts strain health systems and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The MENA region is particularly exposed due to its arid climate, rapid urbanization, and limited natural resources. Unlike other regions, MENA faces a significant gap in climate-health research, policy integration, and healthcare preparedness, making targeted action and investment crucial.”
Dr. Al-Kindi also serves as an associate professor and associate director for cardiovascular prevention & wellness, as well as associate director of the Center for Cardiovascular Computational and Precision Health at Houston Methodist & Weill Cornell Medicine. He has published extensively on the environmental determinants of cardiovascular disease.
The conference will focus not only on the influence of environment and climate on human health but also highlight how healthcare practices contribute to environmental pollution.
The two-day conference will feature an impressive lineup of speakers from prominent international institutions, including Case Western Reserve University; the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean; Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; Harvard University; New York University; Houston Methodist & Weill Cornell Medicine; the University of Colorado Boulder; the University of California San Diego; the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council; Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and Texas A&M University at Qatar; among others.
Dr. Mesaeli said: “The conference will focus not only on the influence of environment and climate on human health but also highlight how healthcare practices contribute to environmental pollution. The ultimate goal is to increase awareness among health workers about the interplay between environment and health and help develop strategies to deliver high-quality patient care with minimal environmental effect.” Her research focuses on the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the development of diseases, specifically lung cancer and metabolic syndrome.
The conference is designed for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, public health experts, academics, students, and researchers interested in environmental health, climate change, and healthcare sustainability.
Dr. Al-Kindi added: “The conference seeks to build regional capacity by fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, and providing practical, evidence-based strategies to integrate climate resilience into healthcare systems. It serves as a catalyst for regional action and a platform for global knowledge exchange.”
CHE2025 is accredited in Qatar by the Department of Healthcare Professions-Accreditation Section (DHP-AS) of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and internationally by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).
The conference is coordinated by WCM-Q’s Division of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which offers high-quality professional development opportunities for physicians and other healthcare professionals. CPD programs are designed based on identified needs and the latest scientific and medical advancements, aiming to increase competence, enhance performance in practice, and improve patient care.
For further information or to register to attend, please scan the QR code.
