Climate Change, Brain Health, and a Renewed Sense of Purpose

Last week I travelled to London for the “Hot Brain 4” conference on climate change and neurological disorders, organised by the Sanjay Sisodiya and his fantastic team at the Institute for Neurology at UCL. This is an annual gathering of researchers, clinicians and scientists exploring one of the most urgent, and still largely overlooked, questions of our time:

What is climate change doing to the human nervous system?

But before the conference had even begun, something rather special happened.
The evening before, I attended the launch of Satish Kumar’s new book Peace is Possible. Satish has long been one of my greatest inspirations, as someone whose work beautifully bridges ecology, spirituality, humanity and hope in a world facing ecological crisis.

Satish Kumar signing copies of his new Peace is Possible book – credit Cheryl Silvawood

The room was full of warmth, wisdom and passionate concern for the future of our planet. Satish spoke movingly about the climate emergency, but also about our responsibility to work together with courage, reverence and compassion.

A wonderful reunion of Schumacher College minds at the Peace is Possible book launch – credit Cheryl Silvawood

Unexpectedly, I was also reunited with several friends and colleagues from the Schumacher College neuroscience and ecology course I attended last autumn with Satish Kumar and Iain McGilchrist. Seeing familiar faces again in such a meaningful setting felt deeply grounding and encouraging. These are people who, like me, are growing in their understanding the relationship between human consciousness, nervous systems, ecology and healing.
I left the event with a profound renewed sense of purpose.
And then came the conference itself.

Climate Change Is a Neurological Issue
The scientific message throughout the conference was both clear and sobering:

Climate change is not only an environmental crisis. It is a neurological and nervous system crisis too: the more divorced our lives have become from Nature, the more we divorce ourselves from our own human nature, which can only result in nervous system stress and strain.

Prof. Diamid Campbell-Ledrum, Head of Climate Change at WHO (Air Quality and Energy Unit)

Heat, humidity, pollution, disrupted sleep, chronic stress, environmental instability and loss of access to Nature are all placing growing pressure on human physiology and brain health.

Researchers presented evidence showing that heatwaves are associated with worsening outcomes in conditions including:
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Myasthenia
• POTS
• Schizophrenia
• Sleep disorders
• Neurodevelopmental conditions
• Menopause-related neurological symptoms
• General mental health difficulties

Again, this is evidence of how interconnected everything is, and of how interconnected we are with our surroundings.

The nervous system is not separate from the environment around us. Human beings are deeply ecological organisms. Our brains, bodies and autonomic nervous systems are constantly responding to temperature, light, stress, pollution, social connection, movement, rhythm and the natural world.
When those systems are pushed beyond their adaptive limits the consequences can be profound.
Researchers discussed how heat can impair cognition, learning, productivity, sleep, emotional regulation and recovery. For around 20% of cases, heatstroke can even lead to permanent neurological injury.
But alongside the warnings, there was also hope.

Adaptation, Neuroplasticity and Human Resilience
One of the most fascinating themes of the conference was adaptation.
Hormesis is where mild, temporary exposure to a low ‘dose’ of a stressor causes an adaptive response which, when repeated over time, makes the body stronger, healthier, and more resilient. Think of the ‘slow boiling frog’ analogy or ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ phrase.
Scientists explored how the human body and brain can develop resilience through carefully managed exposure and acclimatisation. There were discussions around heat adaptation, thermal resilience and the extraordinary plasticity of the nervous system.

This deeply resonated with me through the lens of neuroplasticity therapies.
For years, many of us working in nervous system rehabilitation and with neuroplasticity therapies have recognised that healing is about creating adaptive capacity; and helping the nervous system regain flexibility, resilience, regulation and connection.

Climate change now raises an important question:
How do we support nervous system resilience in an increasingly dysregulated world?
And perhaps equally importantly:
How do we rebuild human relationships with Nature itself?

The Emergence of “Earth Brain”
Over the past year, I have increasingly felt that these intersecting conversations between neuroscience, ecology, nervous system health, trauma, climate science, adaptation, psychology and human consciousness, all belong together.
At the conference, and during conversations throughout the week, that feeling became even stronger.
This is part of the inspiration behind a future summit from Neuro Frontiers called Earth Brain.
The vision is to bring together leading thinkers, clinicians, scientists, therapists and environmental voices from around the world to explore the profound interrelationship between the health of the Earth and the health of the human nervous system.

Not simply from a place of fear or crisis, but from a place of hope, possibility, collaboration, healing, and reconnection.

Because perhaps one of the deepest, clearest truths emerging from both neuroscience and ecology is this:

We are not separate from Nature: our nervous systems need Nature.

And if we want healthy brains, healthy nervous systems and healthy societies, then we must also care for the living systems we belong to.

Do you care deeply about Nature and its relationship to the brain?
We currently exploring interest for our “Earth Brain” summit and would genuinely value hearing from people working in any related fields.
This may include:
• neuroscience
• neuroplasticity
• medicine
• psychology
• trauma therapy
• environmental science
• ecology
• climate and health
• philosophy
• education
• systems thinking
• regenerative practice
• public health
• wellbeing and Nature-based approaches

If Earth Brain resonates with you, register your interest here.
I have a feeling these conversations are only just beginning; and that they may become some of the most important conversations of our time.