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The ������app of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is part of three new UK-wide research hubs focused on ensuring that the UK’s transition to net zero supports and protects public health, particularly among the most vulnerable.

The three hubs involving LSHTM – CHILI, HEARTH and INHABIT – are part of a from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to fund seven interdisciplinary research hubs. Each hub will receive up to £6 million to deliver high impact research focused on reducing health inequalities, and examine how to embed health considerations within climate action.

The hubs will work across five challenge areas to identify opportunities for targeted interventions in the UK, and inform evidence-based policymaking to maximise the health benefits of climate mitigation and adaptation. The five areas include: transport and the built environment; the indoor environment; sustainable diets; extreme weather; decarbonising health and social care pathways.

As this week marks Earth Day with a call to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and drive collective action on climate, this UK-led and funded research comes at an opportune moment, using a systems-wide approach to understand how climate solutions can protect health while accelerating the path to net zero.

Dr James Milner, Associate Professor of Environmental Health and LSHTM lead for the CHILI and INHABIT hubs, said: “These new hubs come at a critical time for UK climate policy. They will help us to better understand how to maximise the health benefits of the transition to a low-carbon economy, while at the same time avoiding any unforeseen adverse effects on people’s health.”

The LSHTM teams involved in CHILI, HEARTH and INHABIT have received just over £1.5 million across the three projects as part of this funding. By contributing expertise, LSHTM researchers will ensure that these major climate initiatives deliver on their potential to improve public health and equity. Together, the hubs mark a significant step forward in designing a healthier, fairer, and more resilient future as the UK accelerates its path to net zero.

CHILI: Child and adolescent Health Impacts of Learning Indoor environments under net zero

Schools and nurseries make up 15% of carbon emissions from public buildings in the UK. To meet net-zero targets (where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere equals the amount removed) by 2050, the UK needs to make buildings more energy efficient. 

Retrofitting measures such as improved insulation and airtight building designs can reduce emissions but may also increase risks of indoor air pollution, overheating, and the spread of respiratory infections.

, led by University College London (UCL) in collaboration with LSHTM, Swansea University, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), University of Leeds, University of York and Imperial, is investigating how energy efficiency upgrades to school buildings could impact the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

CHILI will generate new data on indoor air quality in schools across England and Wales, link this with health and education records, and assess the implications for attendance and health outcomes.

Dr Milner, LSHTM lead for this project said: “The CHILI Hub will provide new evidence to support and improve children’s health and education as school and nursery buildings become more energy efficient.

“In the initial stages, we are working with educators, teaching unions and the Department for Education to support the recruitment of schools for the study. Plans are also underway for in-depth monitoring of indoor environments to better understand how building changes affect classroom conditions.”

HEARTH: National hub on net zero, health and extreme heat

In the summer of 2022, the UK experienced unprecedented 40°C temperatures and five heat periods, . A future with more intense and frequent heatwaves, that often co-occur with other weather extremes, poses a severe threat to public health.

While net-zero measures such as improving thermal performance of buildings can reduce the demand on heating, there can be unintended risk of overheating in warmer months if suitable adaptation measures are not incorporated.

will provide the evidence needed to help the UK achieve net zero, whilst maximising health benefits and reducing risks from extreme heat for vulnerable communities in high-risk settings (e.g. persons with chronic conditions and disabilities, older people, pregnant women, preschool children, persons experiencing homelessness).

Shakoor Hajat, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and LSHTM lead for HEARTH, said:
“This funding will help the UK realise the many health co-benefits of its transition to net zero. The work will evaluate the potential health impacts of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions, with a view to improving them and reducing health disparities.

“HEARTH will be engaging with its extensive stakeholder network at its launch event next month to map out the desired impacts we hope to achieve in multi-functional residential environments and healthcare settings.”

HEARTH is led by Oxford Brookes University, in collaboration with LSHTM, Forest Research, Greater London Authority, ������app of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Oxfordshire County Council, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, UCL, The University of Edinburgh and University of Leeds.

INHABIT: Indoor HABItability during the Transition to Net Zero Housing Hub

Homes contribute about 14% of the UK’s carbon footprint, making it essential to retrofit the country’s 29 million homes to meet the government’s net-zero target. Poorly executed retrofits risk trapping indoor air pollutants and moisture, leading to issues such as mould, with significant implications for respiratory health and wellbeing.

aims to identify both the risks and benefits associated with retrofit strategies and support the design of interventions that reduce inequalities while improving housing quality.

Dr Milner, LSHTM lead for this project said: “INHABIT will study the opportunities to improve health and reduce health inequalities as the UK’s housing stock is retrofitted to meet net-zero targets.”

“We are currently developing a non-randomised controlled trial to assess how retrofitting affects indoor air quality and health, and mapping key stakeholders and building the partnerships that will be essential for accessing homes and delivering impact.”

INHABIT will be led by University of Birmingham in collaboration with LSHTM, Cranfield University, King’s College London, LSE, Oxford Brookes University, UKHSA, UCL, University of Cambridge, The University of Edinburgh and University of Surrey.