Learning outcomes

To describe the basis of climate change and it’s dynamics. To discuss and to critically appraise the observed and predicted impacts of climate change for environment and particularly for human health on global and regional level. To provide skills to plan, implement and evaluate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Contents

• Causes and mechanisms of climate change
• The past and predicted trends of climate change
• Natural disasters associated with climate change
• Observed and estimated environmental impacts of climate change globally and regionally
• Health outcomes linked to climate change
• Methods for assessing health impacts of climate change
• Climate sensitive diseases
• Early warning systems
• Mitigation and adaptation strategies preventing health risks
• Policies for mitigation and adaptation and their evaluation
• The effects of climate change on human mobility

Teaching methods

Teaching method	Contact	Online
Lectures	13 h	0 h
Group work	25 h	0 h
Independent work	107 h	0 h
Seminar	5 h	0 h

Teaching language

English

Evaluation

Numeric 1-5.

Recommended year of study

1. year spring

Study materials

Required reading • Climate Change and Human Health - Risks and Responses (WHO 2003), Full report(322 pages) • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Fourth Assessment Report. Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report (Summary) pages 1-23 or latest report • WHO. Protecting Health From Climate Change. World Health Day 2008 report. (34 pages) • Global Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Understanding the Contributions to Infectious Disease Emergence: Workshop Summary. 2008. Pages 1-48 • Friel S, Marmot M, Mc Michael A, Kjellstrom T, Vågerö D. Global Health Equity and climate stabilisation: a common agenda. Lancet 2008;372 (9650): 1677-1683 (7 pages) • McMichael M. Climate change and human health, present a future risks. Lancet 2006;367:859-69 • Paz J, Campbell-Lendrum D., Holloway T, Foley J. Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature Nov 2005; 438(17): 310-317, • American Journal of Preventive Medicine, special issue on climate change: • Gage K, Burkot T, Eisen R, Hayes E. Climate and vectorborne diseases. Am J Prev Med 2008; 35 (5): 436-450 • Kinney P. Climate Change, Air Quality, and Human Health. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5): 459-467 • Ebi K., Semenza J. Community based adaptation to the Health Impacts of Climate Change. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5): 501-507 • Keim M., Building Human Resilience. The role of public health preparedness and response as an adaptation to climate change. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5); 508-516 • St Louis M, Hess J., Climate change. Impacts on and implications for Global Health. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(5):527-538 Additional reading • National Research Council, Committee on Climate, Ecosystems, Infectious Disease and Human Health. Under the Weather: Climate, Ecosystems, and Infectious Diseases. 2001. Pages 1-108 ( e-book in Ebrary) • The health impacts of 2003 summer heat-waves. Briefing note for the delegations of the 53th session of the WHO regional committee for Europe. (12 pages) • Campbell-Lendrum D, Corvalán C, Neira M. Global climate change: Implications for international public health policy. Bulletin of the WHO;85(3) • Patz J, Kovats R. Hotspots in climate change and human health. BMJ 2002;325;1094-1098 (5pages) • Paz J, Olson S, Gray A. Climate change, oceans and human health. Oceanography Jun 2006;19(2):52-59 • Shea K, The Committee on Environmental Health. Global Climate change and children’s health. Pediatrics 2007;120;e1359-e1367 (8 pages) • WHO. Health and Global Environmental Change. Series No.1. Methods of assessing human health vulnerability and public health adaptation to climate change. (112 pages)

Belongs to following study modules