Call for Case Studies - Pathfinder Initiative

The Pathfinder Initiative is led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). SDSN is acting as a partner organization, together with the OECD, C40 Cities, CDP and Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, hosted by the WHO.

To find practical pathways to zero-carbon by 2050, we need real-world examples from a range of organisations, people, and cities.

The Pathfinder Initiative is looking for evaluations of actions that contribute to the mitigation of climate change by reducing greenhouse gases and that also benefit health. Potential benefits to health can include those from reduced exposures to risk factors, such as reduced air pollution or consumption of healthy diets. Both successes and failures, as well as published and unpublished articles are invited.

Examples can include actions taken by the public and private sectors, civil society and not-for-profit organisations. Actions can come from any sector, including energy, transport, agriculture and land use, oceans, industry, human settlements, health care, and education, and from nature-based solutions like conservation and restoration.

Evidence of cross-sectoral or systemwide actions, including actions at the nexus between mitigation and adaptation, are also welcomed. The call for submission has been extended to May 30, 2021.

You can submit your evidence by filling out an online form and providing further information on the Pathfinder website.

The case studies gathered by Pathfinder will be used to map the evidence for health benefits of carbon reduction actions, to indicate where the gaps are, and to provide frameworks for action to help policy makers and other actors to decide where best to focus their resources. We aim to present initial results at COP26 in November 2021, and final results at COP27 in November 2022.

The Pathfinder Initiative, led by researchers based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), aims to assess and synthesise lessons from the implementation of practical, evidence-based pathways to zero-carbon societies.

The initiative highlights knowledge gaps and identifies how to address challenges of implementation across diverse settings. This supports evidence-informed decision-making on real-world case studies and robust scientific evidence. With scientific oversight provided by The Lancet Pathfinder Commission, and working with partners including SDSN, the C40 cities network and the OECD, the Pathfinder Initiative aims to accelerate progress towards a healthy and prosperous future for all in a ‘post-carbon’ society.

For more information visit lshtm.ac.uk/pathfinder