Laplace Pastor invited to speak at World Health Summit in Berlin
Published 10:57 am Friday, October 3, 2025
Pastor Neil Bernard of New Wine Christian Fellowship in Laplace will address the World Health Summit 2025 on the growing health risks of extreme heat.
He is scheduled to speak at a plenary session titled “Heat and Health in a Warming World: Stories and Solutions to Save Lives and Livelihoods” on Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time.
“My message is that communities can be empowered to protect themselves against the growing health risks of extreme heat,” Bernard said. “I want the world to see that this is not just theory, it’s working right now in St. John Parish, and it can work in communities everywhere.”
The World Health Summit brings together policymakers, scientists, private sector leaders, and civil society to set the global health agenda. This year’s theme, “Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World,” addresses non-communicable diseases, AI-driven solutions, climate-related health risks, and the importance of peace, stability, and the health of women and children.
He highlighted the unique challenges in Louisiana, including intense heat, high humidity, and frequent power outages caused by hurricanes and severe storms. “That creates a dangerous situation, especially for our elderly, medically fragile, and low-income residents. Extreme heat worsens chronic conditions, increases the risk of heat stroke, and threatens lives,” Bernard said.
Locally, Bernard hopes his participation will boost resilience efforts in vulnerable neighborhoods. Internationally, he aims to inspire leaders to invest in scalable, community-driven solutions. “Climate change is global, but solutions must be local. If our story in St. John Parish can inspire communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond, then our small parish will have made a global impact,” he said.
Pastor Neil Bernard is the leader of New Wine Christian Fellowship in Laplace, where he combines faith leadership with climate resilience work. As chairman of the St. John Parish Long-Term Recovery Group, he brings together local and regional partners to strengthen disaster recovery across the Greater New Orleans area.
He also oversees the New Wine Community Lighthouse, the state’s largest solar and battery-powered microgrid, which serves residents with cooling relief, charging stations, and safety resources during power outages. Bernard’s work highlights the role of faith communities in protecting vulnerable populations from the growing risks of climate change.
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