Grounding Ethics in Research on Climate Change and Health: triangulating perspectives of the communities, researchers and ethical committees

The intersection of climate change and health necessitates a thorough understanding of the ethical considerations inherent in this research. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, the health impacts of climate change are becoming alarmingly clear, with the most severe impacts falling disproportionately on vulnerable populations. Research in climate and health is essential to develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, but it also raises complex ethical challenges. Understanding how to navigate these challenges, prioritize research topics, and ensure equitable distribution of benefits and burdens are crucial for driving meaningful progress in addressing climate-related health issues. The evolving intricacies of climate-health research call for new and improved methodological approaches, adding layers of complexity to research, especially in communities already grappling with the effects of climate change. Therefore, maintaining research integrity and ethics remain important frameworks are paramount for researchers in this critical field.

Our interest in this research comes from our longstanding commitment to promoting ethically sound and equitable research practices, particularly in studies on the impacts of climate change on health. Through this proposed work, we aim to contribute to the broader ambition of developing an agenda for ethical research, by exploring insights from the research community and grounding the principles of universal bioethics and the 2017 Declaration of Ethical Principlesi on the priorities of the communities at the frontlines of climate impacts. Addressing urgent ethical dilemmas inherent in climate and health research, including fair representation, justice, and ethical standards across diverse regional contexts is crucial. This grant presents an opportunity to integrate community perspectives into ethical principles for research practices in climate and health.