Penn Dental Medicine Presents Global Discussion on Oral Health, Climate Action During COP29

Philadelphia – Penn Dental Medicine joined in global discussions on sustainability and the impact of climate change on human and oral health, presenting the 3rd Global Oral Health & Climate Action Conference – Delivering Oral Health for People, Planet, Peace and Prosperity – in conjunction with the United Nations 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) that took place November, 11-22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the three decades since the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP) has convened member countries every year.

Held November 18, the Oral Health & Climate Action Conference was a live, day-long webinar developed by Dr. Julian Fisher, Director of Oral and Planetary Health Policies within Penn Dental Medicine’s Center for Integrative Global & Oral Health (CIGOH). Organized in partnership with the Azerbaijan Stomatological Association, the program featured speakers from around globe.

“Our Conference brought together a diverse and inclusive range of speakers to have meaningful discussions on the impact of climate change and what this means for population oral health, dental services, and the provision of oral healthcare,” says Dr. Fisher. “The aim is to begin setting out an agenda as well as strategies for safeguarding planetary health and taking climate action.”

A representative from the Ministry of Health for Azerbaijan opened the Conference, which included ten sessions featuring global leaders across education, research, practice, and industry. Penn Dental Medicine’s Dean, Dr. Mark Wolff, was among the speakers for the session on global oral health leadership, along with representatives from the World Health Organization, the FDI World Dental Federation, the Azerbaijan Stomatological Association, and International Association for Dental Research.

“We have to come together to set actionable steps for sustainable oral health that include a shift to less invasive and environmentally friendly dentistry, along with innovative models for the oral heath workforce,” says Dean Wolff. “We are moving these discussions forward through gatherings like this Conference.”

In the session on dental education for sustainability, Dr. Faizan Alawi, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Penn Dental Medicine, was among the presenters, sharing how One Health is being incorporated into the School’s curriculum. One Health, the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, has been added to the first-year curriculum for DMD students at Penn Dental Medicine, and there will be lectures throughout the four years of instruction that relate back to this core principle.

Other sessions focused on developing a new generation of global oral health leaders, whole-person oral health, innovation through sports dental medicine, and the evolution of a sustainable oral health model.

The final portion of the Conference featured discussions that looked ahead on how to strengthen actions and commitments for oral and planetary health as well as preparations for next year’s COP 30 that will be held in Belém do Pará, Brazil between November 10 and 21, 2025. In conjunction with COP30, Penn Dental Medicine will present the 4th Global Oral Health and Climate Action Conference.

“This Conference at COP29 laid the foundation for oral health to play a pivotal role in advancing planetary health, Whole Health, and health equity through a transdisciplinary approach,” says Dr. Michael Glick, Executive Director of CIGOH. “Penn Dental is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative, and we look forward to sharing insights and learning from others on how to cultivate environmentally conscious healthcare providers.”

“The Conference has reframed discussions within the dental and oral health sector to reposition oral health as a trans-boundary and systems-wide issue,” adds Dr. Fisher, “broadening our horizons and understanding of integrative global oral health as we develop the COP 30 4th Global Oral Health and Climate Action Conference program next year.”