Brain Health In A Changing Climate

The Neuro Climate Working Group is the first and only global action tank tackling the brain health impacts of climate change and related environmental factors. We bring together experts across science, medicine, public health, policy, architecture, design, and community leadership to create solutions at the crossroads of neuroscience, environmental justice, planetary health, and climate resilience.

Join Our Group
Close-up of a ginseng plant with green leaves on a tree branch, blurred green background.

Our Mission

We are committed to unraveling the complex relationship between climate change and brain health. Our mission is to translate groundbreaking research into actionable solutions that safeguard cognitive function, neurological health, and mental well-being for all.

We strive to:

  • Advance Research: Conduct and support rigorous, multidisciplinary studies on climate and brain health.

  • Promote Awareness: Educate policymakers, professionals, and the public on the critical link between climate and brain health.

  • Inspire Action: Develop and implement evidence-based strategies to mitigate harm and build resilience among the most vulnerable communities worldwide.

  • Influence Policy: Advocate for policies that prioritize brain health in climate agendas.

  • Build Capacity: Support and mentor the next generation of climate–brain health leaders.

Person holding a globe-map outdoors during sunset or sunrise.
Multiple hands touching a tree trunk in a forest, showing unity and connection with nature.

Our Vision

We envision a brain-healthy world in which scientific insights into the neurological and mental health impacts of climate change empower individuals and communities to act collectively and at all levels.

We work to shape local, national, and global policy through robust evidence, helping build resilient societies equipped to face the health challenges of a changing planet. By placing brain health at the core of climate resilience strategies, we strive for equitable and sustainable outcomes for all.

Our Why

Climate change is more than an environmental crisis: It is the largest global health threat of the present era. 

Growing evidence synthesized by our network shows that exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and other climate-related stressors can significantly impair neurological, cognitive, and emotional functions and exacerbate various mental and neurological disorders. Yet, research in this area remains fragmented and underdeveloped, particularly in the lower- and middle-income countries that are most vulnerable to climate impacts. Today, there is a critical need to better understand the scope of these effects, identify research deficits, and provide clear, actionable guidance for scientists, medical professionals, and policymakers.

We believe that increasing our scientific understanding is necessary, but not enough. Real change requires deep collaboration with communities, particularly those most at risk. Together, we aim to design and implement locally-grounded and community-based adaptation and prevention strategies that promote resilience and protect brain health where it’s needed most.

Who we are

We are an international and multidisciplinary network of scientists, clinicians, public health professionals, policy experts, architects, designers, and community advocates. Through targeted research, interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based advocacy, and community engagement, we strive to illuminate and tackle the brain health challenges posed by our changing climate.

Launched in April 2024, our group has more than 300 members from over 50 countries, with strong representation from low- and middle-income regions, where climate impacts are felt most acutely. In 2025, the World Economic Forum recognized us as one of the top 5 global initiatives working at the intersection of climate change and mental health.

Our Team

Portrait of a smiling woman with long blond hair, wearing a white embroidered lace top and a small necklace.

Burcin Ikiz, PhD

Founder & Chair

Burcin is an award-winning neuroscientist with over 20 years of experience advancing research and policy at the intersection of brain health, climate change, and planetary resilience. She is the Founder and Director of EcoNeuro, a research and translation initiative dedicated to understanding how environmental and climate-related factors affect the brain across the lifespan and to advancing evidence-based solutions. Dr. Ikiz serves as an advisor to the World Health Organization and other international bodies, was recognized as a 2025 Grist 50 Climate Leader, and is an Adjunct Lecturer in Psychiatry at Stanford University, where she contributes to interdisciplinary teaching and research on climate and brain health.

A woman with shoulder-length dark wavy hair, wearing a black top and a black jacket, standing outdoors with a blurred background.

Angie is a neuroscientist focused on understanding how environmental change shapes brain function and resilience. She is an Associate Program Officer in Neuroscience at The Kavli Foundation, where she developed and leads the Initiative in Neurobiology in Changing Ecosystems, advancing research on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying nervous system responses to environmental stress. Through collaborative program development and field-building, her work has helped catalyze approximately $25 million in public and philanthropic investment in this emerging area of neuroscience.

Angie Michaiel, PhD

Youth Council Coordinator

A man with glasses and a mustache posing outdoors with trees and plants in the background.

Clayton Aldern

Communications & Policy Coordinator

Clayton is an award-winning journalist, writer, and data scientist exploring the intersections of climate change, neuroscience, and society. He is the author of The Weight of Nature, a nonfiction book examining how environmental degradation and climate stressors shape brain chemistry, behavior, and mental health. A Rhodes Scholar, he holds master’s degrees in neuroscience and public policy from the University of Oxford, and his work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, The Atlantic, and Scientific American. His reporting and data-driven storytelling have received numerous honors, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Online Journalism and Sigma Awards, and the Breaking Barriers Award.

Our Advisors

  • A middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair, a beard, and mustache, wearing a light blue striped dress shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred green leafy background.

    Agustin Ibanez, PhD

    Professor and Director of the Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile & Director of the International Program in Global Brain Health Research at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) and Team Leader of the Predictive Brain Health Modelling Group, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

  • A woman with dark, wavy hair and light brown eyes smiling, wearing a dark pinstripe blazer and gold jewelry, standing outdoors with a blurred green foliage background.

    Bishakha Mona, PhD

    Associate Advisor, Science Philanthropy Alliance, Palo Alto, California, USA.

  • A woman with long brown hair and light-colored eyes smiling, standing in front of a stone wall.

    Cecilia Sorensen, MD

    Director of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education & Faculty & Emergency Physician, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.

  • A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses and a sleeveless white checkered top, smiling outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

    Emma Lawrance, PhD

    Director, Climate Cares Centre & Assistant Professor, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

  • A man with light hair and beard wearing a dark suit and checkered shirt, crossing his arms and smiling, standing against a stone wall.

    Harris Eyre, MD, PhD

    Harry Z. Yan & Weiman Gao Senior Fellow and Lead of Neuro-Policy, Rice University & Executive Director, Brain Capital Alliance, Houston, Texas, USA.

  • A professional woman with dark brown hair, wearing a dark purple blazer, black top, and a pearl necklace, smiling at the camera against a light, neutral background.

    Inez Jabalpurwala

    President & Chief Executive Officer, Public Policy Forum, Toronto, Canada.

  • A woman with shoulder-length brunette hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer with gold buttons, standing indoors near a window.

    Khara Ramos, PhD

    Vice President, Dana Foundation, New York, New York, USA.

  • A woman with brown, curly hair wearing a purple shirt, standing indoors with a large green plant behind her.

    Leyla Erk McCurdy, MPhil

    Director, Climate for Health, ecoAmerica; Senior Director, Health & Environment, National Environmental Education Foundation; Founder & Chair, Children’s Environmental Health Committee

  • Smiling man in a checkered suit and white shirt outdoors with green foliage background.

    Matt McFarlane, PhD, JD

    President, Grass Foundation & Partner, Practus, LLP

Contact us

Interested in joining our group? Please complete the registration form here.

For other inquiries, please fill out the form below or email Burcin at burcin@econeuro.org. Thank you.