Making health more sustainable with climate action | Lori Byron | TEDxUniversity of Montana Western

What does climate change have to do with infant health, asthma, and mental well-being? Pediatrician Dr. Lori Byron connects the dots between climate and human health, showing why some of the most effective climate solutions are also opportunities to build healthier communities today. Sponsored by the Fund for Experience One, our conference provides a multidisciplinary forum for academic minds to gather and exchange ideas worth sharing. Speakers selected to present at TEDx University of Montana Western are directly connected to the local community or have topics that support Montana Western’s mission and values. TEDx University of Montana Western showcases the diversity and academic fortitude of our institution while providing a venue for speakers to submit their research to a global network. This conference was filmed in front of a live audience on March 21, 2026 in the Beier Auditorium. Learn more about TEDxUniversity of Montana Western by visiting www.umwestern.edu/tedx-umw/ or www.umwestern.edu. Dr. Byron practiced pediatrics on the Crow Reservation for 27 years. A past president of the Montana Academy of Pediatrics, she has advocated for children her entire life. Concern for children’s health and their home-schooled daughters (a doctor and an engineer) compelled her and her husband to act on climate change. She earned an MS in energy policy and now organizes pediatricians from across the U.S. on climate change. She chairs the Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate. She was a medical expert in Held v. MT. She believes acting on climate matters for our kids. A lot. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx