Protecting Public Health in a Changing Climate: A Primer for City Local and Regional Action

Instructor: Mary A. Fox, PhD MPH, Mary C. Sheehan, PhD MPH and Thomas A. Burke, PhD MPH

Duration: 13.00

This course provides an introduction to the ways climate change affects global population health, and how public health can play a role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through interactive lectures, expert interviews and case studies, participants gain practical knowledge to help protect public health in a changing climate, and apply it to a city of their choice. ▼▲

Course Feature Course Overview Course Provider Discussion and Reviews

Go to class

Course Feature

Cost:

Free

Provider:

Coursera

Certificate:

Paid Certification

Language:

English

Start Date:

8th Mar, 2022

Course Overview

❗The content presented here is sourced directly from Coursera platform. For comprehensive course details, including enrollment information, simply click on the 'Go to class' link on our website.

Updated in [March 06th, 2023]

Course Overview:
Protecting Public Health in a Changing Climate: A Primer for City Local and Regional Action is an online course that introduces the multiple ways our changing climate affects global population health, and to promising policy and practice responses. This course is designed to help participants understand the science consensus suggesting we have 10-20 years to prevent risks associated with exceeding 1.5°C of global warming and put in place adaptive policies. Through interactive lectures, expert interviews and case studies, this course provides practical knowledge and tools to help participants contribute to climate mitigation and building health resiliency in their own local context.

Possible Development Directions:
This course provides participants with the knowledge and tools to help them contribute to climate mitigation and building health resiliency in their own local context. Participants can use the knowledge and tools to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a warmer, more unpredictable climate. They can also use the course to develop strategies to reduce the risks of weather-related injury, illness, mental stress and even death, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Related Learning Suggestions:
Participants can use the knowledge and tools from this course to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a warmer, more unpredictable climate. They can also use the course to develop strategies to reduce the risks of weather-related injury, illness, mental stress and even death, particularly for the most vulnerable. Additionally, participants can use the course to learn more about the role of cities in climate change policy, and to gain a better understanding of the importance of public health in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

[Applications]
Suggestions for the application of this course include using the course tools and strategies to assess the climate-related health risks in a city of choice, and to develop policies and practices to mitigate and adapt to those risks. Participants can also use the course to become more informed about the science consensus on global warming and the potential risks associated with exceeding 1.5°C of global warming. Additionally, the course can be used to gain a better understanding of the role of cities in climate change policy, and to develop strategies to build health resiliency in local contexts.

[Career Paths]
1. Climate Change Policy Analyst: Climate change policy analysts are responsible for researching, analyzing, and developing policies related to climate change. They must be knowledgeable about the science of climate change, the impacts of climate change on public health, and the potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Climate change policy analysts must also be able to communicate their findings to decision makers and the public. This job is expected to grow in demand as the effects of climate change become more apparent and governments and organizations look for ways to address the issue.

2. Climate Change Resilience Planner: Climate change resilience planners are responsible for developing strategies to help communities and organizations prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. They must be knowledgeable about the science of climate change, the potential impacts on public health, and the potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Climate change resilience planners must also be able to communicate their findings to decision makers and the public. This job is expected to grow in demand as the effects of climate change become more apparent and governments and organizations look for ways to address the issue.

3. Climate Change Health Educator: Climate change health educators are responsible for educating the public about the health impacts of climate change and the potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. They must be knowledgeable about the science of climate change, the potential impacts on public health, and the potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Climate change health educators must also be able to communicate their findings to the public in an engaging and accessible way. This job is expected to grow in demand as the effects of climate change become more apparent and governments and organizations look for ways to address the issue.

4. Climate Change Adaptation Specialist: Climate change adaptation specialists are responsible for developing strategies to help communities and organizations prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. They must be knowledgeable about the science of climate change, the potential impacts on public health, and the potential solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Climate change adaptation specialists must also be able to communicate their findings to decision makers and the public. This job is expected to grow in demand as the effects of climate change become more apparent and governments and organizations look for ways to address the issue.

[Education Paths]
1. Master of Public Health (MPH): The MPH is a professional degree that prepares students to become public health practitioners. It provides a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, including epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and health services administration. The MPH degree is becoming increasingly popular as the need for public health professionals to address climate change-related health risks grows.

2. Master of Science in Environmental Health (MS): The MS in Environmental Health is a specialized degree that focuses on the environmental factors that affect human health. It covers topics such as air and water quality, hazardous materials, and environmental health risk assessment. This degree is becoming increasingly important as the need to understand and mitigate the health risks associated with climate change grows.

3. Master of Science in Climate Change and Health (MS): The MS in Climate Change and Health is a specialized degree that focuses on the health impacts of climate change. It covers topics such as climate change science, health impacts, and adaptation strategies. This degree is becoming increasingly important as the need to understand and mitigate the health risks associated with climate change grows.

4. Doctor of Public Health (DrPH): The DrPH is a professional degree that prepares students to become public health leaders. It provides a comprehensive understanding of public health principles, including epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and health services administration. The DrPH degree is becoming increasingly popular as the need for public health professionals to address climate change-related health risks grows.

Course Syllabus

Introduction and Climate Science

Module I introduces learners to the basic definitions, principles and findings of climate change science, relying on reports of the UN-affiliated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as well as the US National Climate Assessment, NASA, NOAA, and other science agencies. Following a brief course overview, sessions cover how the climate has changed and may change in the future, including the recent IPCC report on global warming of 1.5 degrees C. An interview with former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy addresses why public health departments globally need to prepare for a changing climate, and an interview with Dr. Rufus Ewing, former Premier of Turks and Caicos, provides a perspective on the impacts of extreme storms and sea-level rise on vulnerable small island states. A ten-question multiple-choice quiz provides an opportunity to take stock of module learning.

Public Health Perspective

Module II details the health impacts of climate change on human populations, and why a changing climate provides both a challenge but also an opportunity for public health. Direct impacts of climate change on human well-being are covered (including illness, injuries and death from extreme heat, precipitation, and worsening air quality) and indirect impacts (such as increased risk of vector-borne disease, risks to water quality and quantity, food security and safety, mental health, and climate-related relocation). Emphasized points include the vulnerability of specific populations; the complex, interlinked and multi-scale nature of climate health challenges; and the particular hazards faced by cities – on the climate frontline due to their concentrated populations, the urban heat island effect and other factors. An interview with Dr. Thomas Matte, former Assistant Health Commissioner for New York City, provides perspectives on Hurricane Sandy and its impacts; while an interview with former World Bank Institute Urban Director Dr. Mila Freire provides insights into how urban planning and public health can collaborate to enhance climate health outcomes in cities. A ten-question quiz provides an opportunity to review and consolidate learning.

Assessment Frameworks and Case Study

Policies and Practices

Final Assignment

Module III introduces learners to climate and health analytical tools and assessment methods they can use in their own local contexts, illustrating application of these tools through examples including a case study for the city of Barcelona presented by Dr. Joan Ramon Villalbi of the Barcelona Public Health Agency. Among the assessment methods highlighted are the EU Climate Adapt framework, Health Impact Assessment (HIA), and innovative approaches such as “multisolving.” Special focus is placed on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) five-step adaptive-learning framework called “Building Resilience Against Climate Effects” (BRACE), with the US state of Maryland’s application of BRACE provided as an example illustrated through an interview with Dr. Clifford Mitchell, Director in the State Public Health Department's Environment Bureau. A ten-question multiple-choice quiz provides an opportunity to verify learning, and the analytical tools discussed in this module provide guidance for completion of the final course assignment.

Course Provider

Provider Coursera's Stats at AZClass

This course presents the multiple impacts of climate change on the health of the global population, and promising policy and practical responses. More intense storms, heat waves and rising sea levels mean that many people, especially the most vulnerable, are now at increased risk of weather-related injury, illness, stress and even death. Because people care so much about health outcomes, public health has great potential to communicate the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a warmer, less predictable climate. The main message of the course is that, therefore, public health must "lean in" to become a more central player in climate change mitigation and adaptation.