Last July 8, our interns from NUS Overseas Colleges and UP Diliman attended the Plenary on Climate & Health Initiative. Here are their key takeaways and insights.
“Think of our future, our health, and our right to grow up on a safe planet.”
This stirring quote, shared during the session, framed a day of urgent discussions on the health implications of climate change. At the Asian Development Bank’s 1st INSPIRE Health Forum, our interns joined the Climate & Health Initiative plenary session and offered thoughtful reflections grounded in science, empathy, and innovation.
Paterson: Climate Change as a Persistent Pandemic
“Hi, I’m Paterson, and my key takeaway is the impact of climate change on us.”
Paterson shed light on how climate change behaves like a persistent pandemic, with rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns driving year-round outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and dengue. He echoed the session’s framing of this ongoing threat and added a personal reflection on the mental health impacts of climate stress—citing a study from Shanghai that found a clear link between extreme heat days and increased suicide risk.
Jules: Gender and Health in a Warming World
“My key takeaway is that the health of marginalized communities is very severely impacted.”
Jules drew attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, particularly in vulnerable and marginalized communities. She cited evidence that climate-related events—droughts, floods, cyclones—not only increase domestic violence and miscarriages, but also cause women to drop out of essential antenatal care.
Her message was clear: climate policies must be gender-responsive and rooted in community realities.
Alastair: The Dual Burden of Physical and Mental Health
Alastair built on Jules’ and Paterson’s points by exploring the dual threat posed by climate change: both physical and mental. He emphasized that the health crisis is already upon us—pointing to 2.7 million deaths in South Asia in 2021 attributed to air pollution.
His reflection reinforced the idea that climate change isn’t a future risk—it’s a present emergency with devastating, measurable impact.
Joel: The Climate–AI Paradox
“The biggest thing I got today was an idea: the climate–AI paradox.”
Joel explored a powerful tension emerging in the tech and sustainability world. While AI holds great potential to help solve climate problems, it also contributes to them. Training large language models requires massive energy and water, and can significantly raise emissions.
Joel challenged future researchers to seek more sustainable AI development, advocating for small language models and greener infrastructures to ensure that digital solutions don’t worsen the climate crisis they aim to solve.
Why These Youth Insights Matter
The reflections of our interns were not just observations—they were calls to action. Paterson, Jules, Alastair, and Joel brought a powerful blend of scientific insight, social awareness, and innovation-forward thinking to the Climate & Health dialogue.
As one shared:
“Climate change poses a very serious risk in today’s world—and we’re honored to have been part of this event, learning about the solutions that the speaker and panelists are building.”
A Generation Ready to Lead
From gender equity to sustainable technology, and from environmental justice to mental health, the takeaways from the INSPIRE Forum’s Climate & Health plenary reflect a broader truth: the future of health research lies in interdisciplinary thinking and inclusive participation.
And these interns from NUS Overseas Colleges and UP Diliman have proven—they are ready to lead the way.
Here’s the video of their insights and takeaways: