The Lancet Countdown are seeking to appoint three new thematic Working Group (WG) Co-Chairs.
These roles will support the academic collaboration in its activities across the three core themes which do not currently have Co-Chairs:
- Adaptation, Planning, and Resilience for Health (WG2)
- Mitigation Actions and Health Co-Benefits (WG3)
- Public and Political Engagement in Health and Climate Change (WG5)
These roles represent a unique opportunity for globally recognised experts in each of the thematic areas to leverage their research and expertise to guide a global health-centred response to climate change.
These positions are only open to academics based at LMIC institutions and require an average commitment of 5-10% FTE from each Working Group Co-Chair.
Background
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change is an independent, international, multidisciplinary research collaboration. It brings together over 300 researchers from across the world, to track the health impacts of climate change, and evolving health opportunities of climate action, through more than 50 scientific indicators.
The Lancet Countdown was established in 2016, and has grown to include six regional centres, gaining international recognition and relevance to become a global authority on climate change and health. As the profile of the climate change and health gains prominence, in particular following the first Health Day at COP28, the Lancet Countdown commenced a new phase of increased ambition in 2024.
To support the programme to scale its impact in this new phase, the Lancet Countdown has updated its governance structure to ensure that its leadership is both transparent and representative of the diverse global research community which it represents. This has involved creating several new roles, which will elevate the local perspectives through the Lancet Countdown’s Regional Centres and encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing across all of the Lancet Countdown’s operations.
Responsibilities of Working Group Co-Chairs
Working Group Co-Chairs are at the heart of the Lancet Countdown’s strategic leadership. They’re recognised academics, who have significantly contributed towards developing their field of study, who remain involved in leading research and have experience working internationally in cross-disciplinary collaborations.
WG Co-Chairs have the opportunity to be authors of the Lancet Countdown’s flagship global indicator report, published annually in The Lancet. In particular, WG Co-Chairs are expected to offer support to the Global WG Chair in an advisory capacity, by promoting a globally representative and inclusive global report; co-authoring the introduction and conclusions to their WG section of the global report; providing expert input into the development of indicators, and deputising for the WG Chair in Chairing Global WG meetings in exceptional cases.
WG Co-Chairs also play an important role in the strategic governance of the Lancet Countdown, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing between the WG Leaders of the six different Regional Centres, and contributing towards setting the overarching research agenda of each WG to be deployed across the Lancet Countdown’s centres. This impactful responsibility includes advising the WG Chair on the development of an inclusive and representative WG indicator framework; providing expert recommendations for the priorities for indicator development; and advising the WG in the priorities for allocation of research funding. They will also take part of strategic decisions regarding the approach for the Lancet Countdown Global and Regional indicator reports and advise on strategies to increase its policy relevance.
Working Group Co-Chairs act as delegates for the Lancet Countdown, representing the programme at high-level academic and policy events, and acting as spokespersons to communicate the findings of the Lancet Countdown’s science.
Deadline: 30 September 2026
For further information on the Working Group Co-Chairs role, please read the full role description.