December 5–6, 2008, Eco Health Forum, Merida, Mexico

The inaugural Scientific Steering Committee Meeting of the ESSP Joint Project on Global Environmental Change and Human Health convened in Merida, Mexico, 5 – 6 December, 2008 in conjunction with the EcoHealth Forum (http://www.ecohealth2008.org). The meeting was Co-Chaired by Professors Ulisses Confalonieri and Mark Rosenberg. The Mexican Government provided the ESSP with funds for the SSC meeting. The Sponsor Programmes, IGBP, IHDP and WCRP, all provided their continued support to the project.

Key outcomes of the SSC meeting included the identification of ‘fast track’ activities that would get the Project on the map and produce tangible results and outputs in a short time. Proposed fast track activities include policy briefs, training courses, research collaboration with existing projects and research groups as well as papers at major conferences and in peer reviewed journals. Discussions also focused on the urgent need to identify a location and secure funding for the International Project Office (IPO), its staff and their activities. Communications tools were also discussed at length, including the creation of a project website and brochure, thanks to IHDP.

For more information about GECHH, visit http://www.ihdp.unu.edu/category/21?menu=49.