This presentation introduces the CANBREATHE project, a Wellcome‑funded international research initiative examining the health impacts of wildfire smoke attributable to anthropogenic climate change in Southeast Asia and Australia.
It outlines how increasing wildfire risk under climate change disproportionately affects priority populations, including Indigenous communities and young children, and describes a highly interdisciplinary approach combining climate and fire modelling, air pollution monitoring (PM₂.₅), exposure and health impact assessment, and community‑based interventions.
Through five regional case studies, deployment of low‑cost sensors and air purifiers, and strong engagement with communities, schools, and policymakers, the project aims to improve understanding of climate‑driven wildfire health impacts, build local capacity and resilience, and translate evidence into targeted health advice and climate‑informed policy to support health protection across the region.
