Haskell symposium on climate change, childhood health themed around water – The Lawrence Times

Report on the Second Annual Children’s Health and Climate Change Symposium

Introduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Haskell will convene its second annual Children’s Health and Climate Change Symposium from Thursday, November 13, to Friday, November 14. The event, organized by The Rising Voices Changing Coasts Convergence Science Hub, the Haskell USDA Extension Program, and the Haskell Office of Student Life, will address critical wellness issues arising from climate change. The symposium’s focus on the impacts of water directly aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Symposium Objectives and Educational Focus

A central objective of the symposium is to foster the next generation of health and environmental professionals, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The event specifically aims to:

• Engage undergraduate students, with a particular focus on those attending tribal colleges and universities.
• Encourage students to pursue careers in medicine, public health, community health, and environmental health.
• Demonstrate the critical need for trained professionals to help communities prepare for and address climate-related health threats, thereby building local resilience in line with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Thematic Focus: Water, Health, and Climate Action

The symposium is themed “It’s All About Water,” highlighting the severe health risks posed by climate-induced water imbalances. This focus addresses the dual challenges of excessive water leading to deadly floods and water scarcity threatening life, which are critical concerns for achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The event underscores that extreme weather events disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially children, making the discussion essential for advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and promoting urgent SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Event Schedule and Key Topics

The two-day symposium will feature a comprehensive agenda designed to facilitate learning, networking, and discourse on solutions.

1. Thursday, November 13
   • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: A medicine and environmental health career fair.
   • 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: A poster session for knowledge sharing.
   • 6:00 p.m.: A formal banquet.
2. Friday, November 14
   • Panels and presentations by climate scientists, medical professionals, environmental health experts, and social scientists.
   • Discussion topics will include food sovereignty, which directly relates to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and mental health, a key component of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Participating Experts

The event will feature a distinguished group of speakers, including local experts and national keynote presenters, to provide diverse perspectives on the intersection of health and climate change. Keynote speakers include Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, Lori Peek, and Helen Russett. Local contributors include conservation scholar Brett Ramey and therapist Marcia Epstein.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

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

The article discusses a symposium focused on children’s health, climate change, and water, which connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is the impact of climate change on health, particularly children’s health. It explicitly mentions “climate change-related wellness issues,” “major health risks,” “mental health,” and the need for “trained health professionals.”
• SDG 4: Quality Education: A significant aim of the symposium is educational. The article states its goal is to “engage undergraduate students, including those attending tribal colleges and universities, and encourage them to consider careers in medicine, public, community, and environmental health.” This directly relates to providing quality higher education and skills for sustainable development.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The symposium has a “special focus on the impacts of water.” The article highlights the dual problems of excess water (“flooding”) and water scarcity (“droughts”), framing them as life-threatening issues exacerbated by climate change.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The event is a “Children’s Health and Climate Change Symposium.” It directly addresses the need to prepare communities for “current and future climate-related health threats” and discusses extreme weather events like flooding and droughts, which are consequences of climate change.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: While not a primary focus, the article mentions that one of the panel topics is “food sovereignty,” which is directly linked to ensuring access to safe, nutritious food and promoting sustainable agriculture.

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

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries…for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” The symposium’s purpose of training future health professionals to help communities “address the current and future climate-related health threats” is a direct effort to strengthen capacity for managing health risks associated with climate change.
   • Target 3.4: “…promote mental health and well-being.” The inclusion of “mental health” as a specific panel topic shows a direct connection to this target.
2. Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…” The symposium aims to provide students with knowledge about climate change and health, encouraging them to pursue careers that contribute to sustainable and resilient communities.
3. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.5: “By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels…” The article’s focus on the dual threats of flooding and drought points to the need for better management of water resources in the face of climate change, a core concept of this target.
4. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The symposium’s goal is to help “prepare their communities” for climate-related threats like flooding and drought, which is the essence of building resilience and adaptive capacity.
   • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The symposium is a clear example of an initiative aimed at education and awareness-raising among students and the community about the health impacts of climate change.

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

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, as it is a news piece about an event. However, it implies several ways progress could be measured:

• Number of students engaged: An implied indicator for Target 4.7 and 13.3 is the number of undergraduate students, particularly from tribal colleges, who attend the symposium and the associated career fair. This measures the reach of the educational and awareness-raising effort.
• Increase in skilled health professionals: A long-term implied indicator for Target 3.d is the number of students who, after attending the symposium, choose to “consider careers in medicine, public, community, and environmental health.” This would measure the success of the event in building human capacity.
• Development of community preparedness plans: For Target 13.1, a relevant indicator would be the number of communities that develop or enhance plans to address climate-related health threats as a result of the knowledge shared and connections made at the symposium.
• Number of awareness-raising events: The symposium itself serves as an indicator for Target 13.3, representing an “awareness-raising” activity focused on climate change adaptation and impact reduction.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: lawrencekstimes.com