Paris research in health, environment and climate (PARSEC)

PARSEC aims to generate scientific knowledge at the nexus between climate change and health, aiming to support public decision for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies beneficial for health and socially fair.

PARSEC is one of the very few research structures solely dedicated to the climate and health nexus in France. PARSEC was launched in 2024 and is located in the heart of Paris, in the Institute of Biology of Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) and supported by Inserm and ENS.

Philosophy, structuring hypothesis

Health and inequalities are central issues in the relevance and acceptability of climate policies. Because the health and social consequences of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies typically unfold on the short term, locally and unconditionnaly of other regions and countries also acting, their optimization and description may provide a huge asset for the implementation of ambitious climate mitigation scenarios, whose climate benefits tend to unfold on the longer term, to be diluted in space and conditional on the main greenhouse gas emitters also acting.

PARSEC main aims

PARSEC has four key aims:

« Impacts » axis

  • Document the consequences of CC on health, social inequalities and the environment, and quantify their societal costs

« Trajectories » axis

  • Identify optimal adaptation and mitigation trajectories in terms of public health, reduction of inequalities and preservation of the environment

« Implementation » axis

  • Identify the levers that will allow these trajectories to be taken (intervention studies, policies…)

Knowledge diffusion

  • Research projects will be conducted in a logic of participatory research
  • Disseminate knowledge about the impacts of CC on health and the health and social cobenefits of mitigation strategies
  • Training tomorrow’s researchers on these issues

PARSEC team

Ongoing projects

MOCAPH (PI, Rémy Slama, funding ANR-PEPR TRACC-Climat)

  • Feed public decision related to climate change mitigation and help society embark on mitigation strategies fair and beneficial for health.
  • Partnership with ENS Géosciences Department (IPSL), Mines PSL, CNRS, Grenoble-Alpes University, Inrae, INERIS

Climate Health (PI Rémy Slama, funding Inserm Climate Health program)

  • Health cobenefits of decarbonization of transport sector in France and UK
  • Albert Moukanas

Philoctet project (PI, K. Jean, funding ADEME)

  • Health cobenefits of decarbonization of diets and other sectors in France
  • Inès Masurel, Ayushi Sharma, Kévin Jean

PACC-MACS (PI, Rémy Slama, funding ADEME)

  • Combined health impacts of climate change (via non-optimal temperature) and PM2.5 reduction at the urban scale.
  • Ninh Nguyen, Rémy Slama

Scientific publications (2024-)

  • Jean K, Slama R. Reflections on the Lancet Commission on Investing in Health’s Global Health 2050 report. The Lancet. 2025;406: 31. Link
  • Moutet L, Bernard P, Green R, Milner J, Haines A, Slama R, […] Jean K. The public health co-benefits of strategies consistent with net-zero emissions: a systematic review. Lancet Planetary Health 9: e145–e156. 2025. Link
  • Davias, A, Lyon-Caen S… Slama R. Associations between the gut microbiota at one-year and neurodevelopment in children from the SEPAGES cohort. Brain, behavior, & immunity-health, p. 101063, 2025.
  • Coutellec L, Jean K. La bifurcation écologique de la recherche scientifique : une nécessité éthique et politique. Nat Sci Soc. 2024 ; 32:1.  
  • Lefèvre L, Vincent-Titeca C, Garcia-Marin C, Temime L*, Jean K*. Paris 2024 Olympic Games: A risk enhancer for autochthonous arboviral diseases epidemics? International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2024;146. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107191
  • Moutet L, Bigo A, Quirion P, Temime L, Jean K. Different pathways toward net-zero emissions imply diverging health impacts: a health impact assessment study for France. Environ Res Health. 2024;2: 035005. doi: 10.1088/2752-5309/ad5750
  • Schwarz E, Leroutier M, Nazelle AD, Quirion P, Jean K. The untapped health and climate potential of cycling in France: a national assessment from individual travel data. Lancet Reg Health – Eur. 2024;39. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.100874. Link
  • Davias, A., Lyon-Caen, S., Rolland, M., Iszatt, N., Thomsen, C., Haug, L. S., … & Slama, R. Perinatal exposure to phenols and poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances and gut microbiota in one-year-old children. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(35), 15395-15414, 2024. Link
  • Colzin S. … Slama R, Angeli K, A plausibility database summarizing the level of evidence regarding the hazards induced by the exposome on children health, Int J Hygiene and Env Health, 2024. Link
  • Rigaud M, … Slama R, The methodology of quantitative risk assessment studies, Env Health, 2024. Link

Other publications

  • Pham M, Moutet L, Adélaïde L, Jean K. Les politiques climatiques sont aussi une opportunité pour la santé publique. Questions d’économie de la santé Irdes. 2025;303. https://www.irdes.fr/recherche/2025/qes-303-les-politiques-climatiques-sont-aussi-une-opportunite-pour-la-sante-publique.html
  • Jean, K., Moutet, L., Masurel, I., Gédéon, D., Quirion, P., Slama, R., Temime, L., 2025. Les implications pour la santé publique des politiques de neutralité carbone : différents impacts pour différents leviers. Environnement, Risques & Santé 24, 160–168. doi : 10.1684/ers.2025.1858
  • Jean K, Temime L, Moutet L (2025) Atteindre les objectifs climatiques améliorera aussi la santé publique. The Conversation, 9/12/2025
  • Moutet L, Bigo A, Quirion P, Temine L, Jean K. Les bénéfices sanitaires du vélo dans la stratégie française de neutralité carbone. Santé Publique. 2024;36: 49–54. doi : 10.3917/spub.hs2.2024.0049
  • D’Andrea F, Jean K (2025) « Cet été risque d’être l’un des plus chauds du début du XXIe siècle, et un des plus frais du reste ». La Croix, 01/07/2025
  • Jean K (2025) Le changement climatique augmente les allergies aux pollens. Bon Pote, 05/05/2025
  • Moutet L, Bigo A, Quirion P, Temime L, Jean K (2024) Vélo ou voiture électrique ? Comment nos choix de mobilité impacteront la santé publique. The Conversation, 8/12/2024
  • Jean K, De Nazelle A, Leroutier M, Quirion P (2024) Le vélo, un potentiel inexploité pour améliorer la santé (et le climat). The Conversation, 2/04/2024 (article repris dans Ouest France, L’Obs et Reporterre)
  • Jean K (2024) Le meilleur remède contre l’éco-anxiété. Bon Pote, 22/02/2024

Teaching

We are involved in various teaching activities at ENS-PSL and elsewhere including:

  • PSL week on Climate change and health
  • Pasteur week on Climate change and health
  • PSL Master on Transitions (TRANSFORM) -ENS-PSL life sciences Master program (IMALIS)