Dr. Michael Brauer has been selected to the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). The CCAC, part of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), is the first global project to treat short-lived climate pollutants as an international challenge. Since being established in 2012, it has grown from seven founding partners to a collection of 72 nations, intergovernmental, and non-government organizations.
Dr. Brauer, co-lead of UBC’s School of Population and Public Health’s Occupational and Environmental Health theme and Director of UBC’s Bridge Program is honoured to be able to represent Canada, a CCAC founding partner, on this international panel.
“This panel and the entire CCAC is about action, and that is what excites me,” said Brauer. “As an alternative to endless negotiations about climate change treaties and emissions targets, the CCAC is focused on work that will have impact in the short term and also directly acknowledges and targets things that will lead to health “co-benefits.” It is using the need to deal with climate change as a way to promote solutions to other health-relevant problems.”
The Science Advisory Panel is comprised of a select experts from a diverse range of fields. As a member of the panel, Dr. Brauer will be delivering information on the latest research regarding short-lived climate pollutants and climate change, informing policy discussions, and advising the CCAC on its proposed activities.
Dr. Brauer specializes in the assessment of exposure and health impacts of air pollution, with specific interest in transportation-related and biomass air pollution. He holds associate appointments in the Division of Respiratory Medicine and the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at UBC. Dr. Brauer was also recently appointed to the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health Advisory Board. He has participated in studies throughout the world and served on advisory committees to the World Health Organization, the US National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine, the Royal Society of Canada, the International Joint Commission and governments in North America and Asia.