SCORCH CENTER MISSION
SCORCH is dedicated to research and programs that will empower communities in dry regions, both locally and globally, to adapt to the health risks of climate change and to build health equity as heat, drought, wildfires, and other climate crises threaten population health.
The Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health (SCORCH) supports cross-disciplinary researchers and community partners to plan and implement programs that helps underserved communities in hot and dry geographic regions adapt to climate-driven health threats. The Center’s applied research in the Southwestern United States builds knowledge and practice that benefits communities globally.
Why SCORCH?
As our world warms, many regions are becoming hotter and drier. These environmental conditions lead to a cascade of public health threats, such as extreme heat, wildfires, dust and smoke, food scarcity, water quality and scarcity, and the spread of communicable diseases. Arizona already confronts many of these health threats, and our research and experts are already working with local agencies to find solutions.
Expertise: A land grant research institution in the arid Western United States, the University of Arizona has extensive knowledge and experience with cross-disciplinary arid lands research. Our scientific studies build on a foundation of data to provide benchmarks and insights that guide decision-makers to help prepare for the complex challenges posed by climate change and protect our communities.
Partnerships: In the process of conducting research, UArizona has also built collaborative relationships of trust with many community partners, including rural, urban, and tribal communities, and across many sectors such as agriculture, health services, mining, and technology. All of these partnerships will help to guide research and implement programs to support populations in hot and dry climate regions.
