Global warming gives rise to destructive climate change, an important and increasingly urgent threat to human health, ecosystems and economies, with negative impacts already being felt and likely to worsen considerably in our lifetimes. Human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, has significantly contributed to climate change, which is becoming an existential threat and demands corrective action informed by data, knowledge, insights and best practices. Biomedical informatics, focused on data science, information systems, knowledge dissemination and healthcare expertise, is essential to supporting our efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Thus, there is an urgent need to initiate discussions, activate research and make decisions affecting human health in the context of climate change through the lens of informatics.
As a community committed to the vision of a world where informatics transforms care by improving health and healthcare decisions, AMIA has a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of thought leadership in assessing and addressing the damaging effects of climate change on human health. AMIA and its members lead the way in transforming healthcare through trusted science, education and the practice of informatics, connecting a broad community of informatics professionals and students. AMIA also serves as a bridge for advancing
knowledge and collaboration across a continuum, from basic and applied research to the consumer and public health arenas. The Climate, Health and Informatics Working Group is committed to supporting AMIA in its vital role in applying informatics to facilitate action addressing climate change and its negative impacts on human health.