Geography lecture to explore climate change and mental health in Ghana – Penn State University

Report on Seminar: Climate Change, Mental Health, and Sustainable Development Goals

Event Overview

• Topic: “Invisible Wounds of a Warming World”
• Speaker: Dr. Thelma Abu, Assistant Professor of Environment and Human Interactions, University of Connecticut
• Date and Time: Friday, Oct. 31, at 3:30 p.m.
• Location: 112 Walker Building, Penn State University Park, with virtual access via Zoom.
• Host: Penn State’s Department of Geography, as part of the fall 2025 Coffee Hour seminar series.

Core Focus: Climate Action and Mental Health (SDG 3 & SDG 13)

The seminar will address the critical intersection of climate change and public health, directly contributing to the discourse on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on the mental health consequences of climate extremes, particularly in vulnerable, low-resource communities.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The presentation will examine mental health outcomes resulting from rising temperatures, highlighting the “invisible wounds” of climate stress.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By using a case study from Ghana’s semi-arid northern regions, the talk will illustrate the tangible human impacts of a warming climate and explore the urgent need for integrating mental health support into climate adaptation planning and policy.

Intersectional Analysis and Broader SDG Implications

Dr. Abu’s research provides an intersectional analysis that connects the central themes to a wider range of SDGs, emphasizing the interconnected nature of global development challenges.

1. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The research specifically targets low-resource settings, investigating how climate change exacerbates existing health inequalities within and among countries.
2. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The speaker’s broader research portfolio includes a focus on gender, suggesting an analysis of how climate-related health challenges disproportionately affect different genders.
3. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Dr. Abu’s work on water insecurity in the Global South links climate impacts directly to fundamental resources necessary for health and survival.

Speaker Profile and Research Alignment with SDGs

Dr. Thelma Abu’s academic and research background is centered on the socioecological factors that produce health outcomes, with a strong alignment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Primary Expertise: Environmental change, health inequalities, and gender across the Global South and North.
• Research in the Global South: Focuses on the intersections of climate, water insecurity, and health equity, contributing to SDGs 3, 5, 6, 10, and 13.
• Research in the Global North: Explores the health impacts of flooding and aging sewer systems, relevant to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme is the impact of climate extremes on “mental health outcomes.” Thelma Abu’s talk explicitly examines how rising temperatures affect mental health, which is a core component of this goal. Her research on “health inequalities” and “health equity” further reinforces this connection.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article directly addresses climate change through terms like “warming world,” “climate extremes,” and “rising temperatures.” The discussion on integrating climate-related challenges into “adaptation planning and policy” is a key aspect of taking action on climate change.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article mentions that Abu’s broader research addresses “water insecurity” in the Global South and the health impacts of “aging sewer systems” in the Global North, both of which are central issues for SDG 6.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The mention of research on the “health impacts of flooding and aging sewer systems” connects directly to creating resilient and sustainable urban environments, which is the focus of SDG 11.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s focus on “mental health outcomes” and “climate-related mental health challenges” directly aligns with the promotion of mental health and well-being as stipulated in this target.
2. Under SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article discusses the need to integrate mental health challenges into “adaptation planning and policy” in response to climate extremes, which is a direct effort to build resilience and adaptive capacity.
3. Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” Abu’s research on “water insecurity” in the Global South is directly related to this target.
   • Target 6.2: “By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all…” Her work on “aging sewer systems” relates to the provision of adequate sanitation infrastructure.
4. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…” The research on the health impacts of “flooding” is directly relevant to mitigating the effects of water-related disasters on populations.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 3, Target 3.4
   • The article implies the need for indicators that measure mental health status in climate-vulnerable populations. While not naming a specific UN indicator, the focus on “community perceptions and lived experiences of climate stress” suggests the use of qualitative and quantitative data on the prevalence of mental health conditions (like anxiety and depression) in affected regions.
2. For SDG 13, Target 13.1
   • The article implies an indicator related to policy and planning. Progress could be measured by the number or quality of national and local adaptation plans that explicitly include provisions for mental health support in response to climate change. This aligns with the spirit of Indicator 13.1.2, which tracks the adoption of local disaster risk reduction strategies.
3. For SDG 6, Targets 6.1 & 6.2
   • The term “water insecurity” implies indicators that measure access to and quality of water resources, such as the proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services (Indicator 6.1.1). “Aging sewer systems” implies indicators related to the functionality and coverage of sanitation services (related to Indicator 6.2.1).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: psu.edu