The ecosystems of our planet are at the brink of collapse. As the World Health Organization has stated many years ago, climate change represents the single greatest threat to human health in the 21st century. From heat-related illnesses, mortality and injuries caused by extreme weather events, to the spread of vector-borne diseases and worsening mental health, the health impacts are wide-ranging and increasingly well-researched. At the same time, strategies for reducing emissions and adapting to climate change offer co-benefits for the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Yet, despite growing scientific evidence and public awareness, the world is witnessing a troubling backlash against climate action and policies aimed at advancing health equity. This blatant disregard of the right to healthy lives of billions of people now and in the future – from push-back on local climate projects to the falling-apart of international agreements – leaves many baffled and hopeless. However, we believe that therein lies a wakeup call: to examine the roots of the crisis more critically and comprehensively and rebuild systems around collective care and nurturing relationships between humans and non-humans alike.

We have learnt from the – often intersectional and decolonial - struggles of marginalized communities, grass root movements and committed scholars, especially from the Global South, that climate change is only one of many symptoms of centuries-old global systems of capitalist exploitation, colonial and racist violence. We have come to understand that certain lives and bodies have been persistently devalued, bearing the brunt of environmental degradation and violation of their human right to health.

Based on this common understanding, the summer school seeks a critical inquiry into the roles and responsibilities of global health institutions and research practices. What do decolonial approaches look like in these contexts? And how can health systems not only respond to the challenges of the climate crisis, but also contribute to transformative, emancipatory solutions?

To grapple with the complexity of this and other planetary crises, intersectoral and multidisciplinary perspectives may be helpful. How are nutrition and food systems linked to the climate crisis and the globalised capitalist economy? What role do militarisation, violent conflict and war play in driving the climate crisis and health inequity? By approaching the interlinked crises from different angles, we may gain new insights and overcome silo-thinking.

At the heart of this exploration lies the potential for resistance, solidarity, and empowerment. What can we learn from communities that challenge dominant paradigms and nurture collective resilience? How can we centre diverse voices and experiences, especially those from historically marginalised groups and Indigenous peoples? Their work offers valuable insights into how individuals and groups can organise, resist, and reimagine systems that serve both people and the planet.