Dr. Lee delivers a for the Climate Health Society’s Grand Rounds
In a time of accelerating climate crises, movement is more than a personal health choice — it’s a planetary necessity. In her recent presentation, Dr. Eun-Young Lee, Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, challenged audiences to rethink how physical activity and health behaviors intersect with climate change, equity, and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Lee’s talk, “Moving for the Planet: Rethinking Health & Behavior in a Changing Climate,” explored how movement can serve as both an individual and collective act of adaptation and resilience. Drawing on interdisciplinary and equity-centered research, she called for a shift from traditional behaviorist models of health promotion toward systems thinking — one that recognizes the complex social, environmental, and structural forces shaping health.
By reframing “moving for health” as “moving for the planet,” Dr. Lee emphasized that everyday actions — from outdoor play to sustainable mobility — can contribute to both personal well-being and global resilience. Her work highlights how advancing environmental justice, behavioral adaptation, and public health innovation together can foster healthier, more sustainable futures for all.
About Dr. Eun-Young Lee:
Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies and cross-appointed in Gender Studies at Queen’s University. She is an affiliated investigator with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and a Visiting Professor at Yonsei University. Her research examines how environmental, social, and behavioral systems interact to shape population health, particularly amid urbanization, air pollution, and climate-related risks.
Presentation recording: upcoming.
