Abstract: Air pollution, water pollution and soil contamination have become widespread health hazards in developing countries. Emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases are rapidly increasing, which intensifies their environmental health problems. While it has been well documented that pollution exposure increases health risks, much less is known about its impact on other key dimensions of human capital and well-being. The GLO Cluster on the Environment and Human Capital will contribute to deepening current research on health impacts of environmental degradation. More importantly, the GLO Cluster aims to developing a research agenda on broader impacts of environment on human capital, such as hedonic happiness, life satisfaction, mental health and depression, cognitive functioning, educational outcomes, productivity and labor market outcomes, and economic activities. The GLO Cluster also aims to better understand the physiological and psychological pathways that may lead to these fundamental impacts. The GLO Cluster seeks to contribute to evidence-based policy making around the world.

Cluster Lead: Xi Chen

GLO Cluster Lead Xi Chen is Assistant Professor of Global Health Policy and Economics at Yale University. Outstanding among his many roles and obligations is his position as President of the China Health Policy and Management Society. His research focuses on public policies related to childhood development, population aging, climate change and health, and quality of life.

2018 activities

• October/November – 10-11; 31-2: Hong Kong/China. FOM-KAS-GLO Joint Research Conference “Climate Change and Human Responses.” Part of a long-term partnership between GLO and FOM University. The event is supported by the German Konrad-Adenauer Foundation (KAS). Among the speakers were various GLO Fellows, the Cluster Lead and the GLO President. Reports:  DAY ONE, DAY TWO, DAY THREE
• May, 11-13: Second biennial conference of the China Health Policy and Management Society (CHPAMS) gathered at Yale University organized by Xi Chen. The three-day conference featured 7 keynote speeches, 3 roundtables, and 140 talks by health experts from China and the US on a wide range of topics. GLO was supporting the event and contributed two GLO Special Sessions on “Environment, Smoking and Population Health” and “Air Pollution”. Report on the event.   More details.

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