Climate and Health Across Rural America

George M. Beal Distinguished Lectureship in Rural Sociology

Much of the research on disaster vulnerability in the Global North tends to be urban‐centric, although the intersections between climate and health in rural America are fundamental to rural well‐being. Persistent weather-related losses routinely occur in rural regions, often caused by seasonal flooding and/or severe weather such as recently experienced in south-central Texas. Heat waves and heavy rainfall events are becoming more frequent, especially across the northern Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast, while declining precipitation, and related increased drought risks, are anticipated in the Southwest. At the same time, as compared to urban regions, rural resilience to disasters is challenged by lower levels of health insurance, less ready access to health care, older populations, and relatively poor health. Still, social networks and community ties enhance community resilience suggesting rural strength. In all, policies and programs in support of rural health in the context of climate change must be informed by the specificities of rural life and the wide variation in conditions across rural places.

Dr. Lori Hunter is director of the Institute of Behavioral Science and professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder. With over 30 years in the academy, Dr. Hunter has substantial experience in research leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student training and mentoring. Dr. Hunter's research focuses on interactions between local environments and demographic outcomes such as human migration, aging, and health. Her recent research on small towns across the U.S. has identified several patterns of change and linked these to the prospects of rural young people as they move through life, emphasizing the impact of such changes on community and individual well-being. Dr. Hunter has published over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts and many book chapters on these topics. She has offered commentary for the United Nations as the organization worked to integrate population issues into the Sustainable Development Agenda. She’s also consulted with the World Bank about migration, climate, and gender.

The lecture recording will be posted on the Available Recordings page approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.