It is widely recognized that climate change is the biggest global health threat that we face today. But one piece of information that gets relatively little attention is the question of: how does climate change affect our brains? Dr. Burcin Ikiz is a neuroscientist and global health advisor who studies exactly that. On this episode, she joins Terra Verde host Fiona McLeod to discuss how climate change and environmental factors like air pollution, extreme heat, and malnutrition affect neurological and mental health.

Burcin Ikiz, PhD is the founder of EcoNeuro and the International Neuro Climate Working Group. She leads a network of over 250 researchers, physicians, and policymakers with the goal of expanding research on how climate change impacts neurological and mental health, and on translating these insights into tangible global health solutions. She is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and an Affiliate of the Center for Human and Planetary Health at Stanford University, where she contributes to transdisciplinary efforts linking neuroscience, mental well-being, and climate resilience to advance brain and planetary health. In 2025, Dr. Ikiz was named a Grist 50 Fixer alongside other climate and justice leaders building sustainable and hopeful futures.

The post How Does Climate Change Affect Our Brains? appeared first on KPFA.