NIH ceases climate change health research funding

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has decided to stop funding research on the health effects of climate change. This decision was made according to internal documents reviewed by ProPublica. The guidance was shared with staff members last week. It is part of a broader trend to cut funding for projects that do not align with the current administration's priorities, which include topics like gender identity and vaccine hesitancy. Researchers are concerned this will end future studies that look into how climate change affects public health. Dr. Lisa Patel, a medical expert, described the decision as “catastrophic,” suggesting it will harm important research at a time when extreme weather events are becoming more common. In previous years, the NIH funded many programs that studied climate change's impact on health. Under President Biden, the agency initiated a program to coordinate research on this issue, receiving $40 million in funding for 2023 and 2024. However, recent changes have dismantled this program and others like it. The Department of Health and Human Services said it is focusing on research that aligns with its priorities, emphasizing a return to evidence-based science. Some experts have pointed out that halting research on climate-related health issues could prevent effective responses to the impacts of climate change. Historically, researchers dealing with climate and health faced challenges during Trump's previous administration. A former federal scientist explained that discussions about "climate change" were avoided to secure funding. The NIH previously listed various research projects, including studies on wildfires and disease transmission related to climate change, but has since removed this information. Trump's administration is also pushing to reduce funding for climate initiatives and is considering cuts to the scientific research division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Questions remain about the future of climate health research. Although Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., believes climate change poses serious threats, it is unclear if he will oppose the administration's policies.