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Our aim is to facilitate collaboration within the members of the Initiative but also to coordinate efforts with other Norwegian and international actors working to understand and find solutions for global challenges related to Climate and Health.

Finding answers to understand and address these complex interactions must be grounded in broad interdisciplinary (several faculties) and transdisciplinary (several types of institutions) research and innovation initiatives. 

As a response to this challenge, the faculty of Medicine at the University of Bergen (ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´) together with the faculties of Psychology and Mathematics and Natural Sciences as well as the Bjerknes Centre and the Climate Agency (Klimaetaten) of the City of Bergen, in 2024 launched the Climate Health Initiative ensuring that we, together, approach timely and relevant challenges for Norway and abroad. 

In 2026, following the conclusion of , financed by the Norwegian Research Council, we are pleased to announce a collaboration between the former NORPath network and the Climate Health Initiative (CHI). This collaboration aims to maintain momentum, strengthen connections across institutions, and further advance research, education, and policy-relevant work at the intersection of climate and health.

Faculty of Medicine, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

• Professor Esperanza Diaz, IGS, Pandemic Centre
• Director Simon Nygaard Øverland Global challenges, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´
• Professor Ane Johannessen, IGS, GAP, TVEPS
• PhD candidate Ingrid Azevedo, IGS,  Climate Health
• Senior Adviser Gøril Vikøren Nøkleby, IGS  Pandemic Centre

Faculty of Science and Technology, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

• Director Kikki Flesche Kleiven,  Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Professor Noel Sebastian Keenlyside,  Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Professor Thomas Spengler,  Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Senior adviser Friederike Hoffmann, Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Professor Stefan Pieter Sobolowski, Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Professor Tor Eldevik , Geophysical Institute, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

Faculty of Psychology, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

• Professor Gro Mjeldheim Sandal, Dept. of Psychosocial Science

Faculty of Social Sciences, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

• Professor HÃ¥vard Haarstad, Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET)

Bergen muncipality

• Director Stina Ellevseth Oseland Climate Agency
• Marit Voltersvik Infection control supervisor

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

• Associate professor Maria Nordheim Alme Head of Section, Department of Health and Functioning
• Joost Van Wijchen Head of Section, Department of Health and Functioning

Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center

• Senior scientist Roshin Pappukutty Raj, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Senior scientist Yiguo Wang,  Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
• Researcher Victoria Miles Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research

NORCE

• Emre Sari, Division Health & Social Sciences
• Jesper Blinkenberg, Division Health & Social Sciences

Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science NTNU

• Associate professor Tora Bonnevie

Department of Physics/School lab NTNU

• University lector Ruusu Riekki
   

Norwegian Veterinary Institute

• Research director Karin Troell

Department of Health and Care Sciences UiT The Arctic Uni.of Norway

• Associate professor Filip Maric

Sustainable Health Unit UiO

• Senior advisor Christina Brux

The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research NINA

• Research director Margarita Novoa-Garrido

Norwegian Institute for Public Health NIPH

• Department director Mari Steinert
• Specialist director Anne Bergh

Independent members

• Public Health specialist Valesca Venhof

Ph.D candidates

• Ingrid Cardoso Couto de Azevedo | ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

Master students

• Emina Dzino

Courses and material

TBA

2026

• 03.11.2026 One Health Day: Open conference, Ã…s 
• October 2026 Dissemination Seminar Bergen
  As a continuation of the work from the workshop, we will organize a dissemination seminar at the Alrek Health Cluster, with a focus on current and emerging climate and health research.
• 18.09.2026 CHI session during : Preparedness
• 17.09.2026 Workshop Bergen
  The workshop aims to strengthen health-sector capacity in climate and health, develop new project ideas, and lay a solid foundation for future research applications.
• XX.05.2026 Planning meeting for Alrek Health Days
• 26.03.2026 Meeting CHI steering committee
• 26.01.2026 CHI meeting
  • Guest speaker Claudia Torrealba
    Senior advisor on health and climate at Red Cross
  • Guest speaker
    Researcher UiO

2025

• 17.01.25: Webinar
• 14.01.25  Webinar
• 21.03.25  Webinar
• 09.04.25  CHI meeting
  • Guest speaker
    Austrian National Public Health Institute
• June 2025 Bergen Summer Research School
  • CHI course: Climate change and health
• 26.08.25 CHI meeting
• 20.11.25 CHI meeting
  • Guest speaker dr. Jerome Picard
    Faculty of fine Art, music and Design, ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´
    
     

2024

• October 18: Jeanette Magnus, UiO
• /ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´

2025

Since its launch, CHI has developed a growing portfolio of activities, including academic seminars, funding applications, international collaborations, and public engagement events.  
The collaborations within CHI have demonstrated strong potential for sustained interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary engagement. Moving forward, CHI will continue to: 

• Strengthen national and international research partnerships 
• Expand educational activities at graduate and PhD levels 
• Support policy-relevant research and public engagement 
• Serve as a coordinating platform for climate and health initiatives at ºÚÁϳԹÏ×ÊÔ´ and beyond 

Interested in contributing to this important new initiative? 

We welcome energetic researchers and practitioners that want to make a difference either through improving basic understanding of climate - health pathways or developing measures to mitigate impacts on our health. The network provides a platform to develop transdisciplinary solutions through webinars, workshops, educational activities, and research projects. Please get in touch!