MPH5042 - Climate change and public health - 2018

This unit will examine the health impacts of climate change, and the relevance of this to the principles and practices of public health. Informed by an understanding of the fundamental role of climate stability for sustained population health, and of evidence for anthropogenic global warming, the focus of the unit will be on direct and indirect mechanisms through which climate change could impact on health, including extreme weather events, changing patterns of vector-borne disease, water-borne infections, food quality and availability, air quality, and social disruption. There will be an emphasis on evidence for past and predicted health effects, health burden magnitude and distribution, and the complex interplay between population and environmental factors that influence vulnerability. Students will apply this knowledge to critically appraise adaptation and mitigation initiatives from a public health perspective, and will be expected to engage with current climate change issues and communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Articulate the fundamental role of climate stability as a prerequisite for sustained population health.
2. Distinguish between concepts of climate, climate variability and long-term climate change.
3. Critically appraise evidence for anthropogenic global warming and climate change, and demonstrate an understanding of predicted climate scenarios.
4. Outline the basic principles and tools of public health practice, and discuss their application to minimise the health impacts of climate change.
5. Identify the potential mechanisms through which climate change could impact directly and indirectly on health, and of the complex interactions between these and other population and environmental factors.
6. Discuss the magnitude and distribution of the health burden of climate change.
7. Outline factors that influence the vulnerability of populations to the health impact of climate change, and apply this knowledge to critically appraise public health preparedness and response initiatives.
8. Discuss adaptation and mitigation initiatives to minimise the health impact of climate change, using a public health prevention framework.
9. Clearly and effectively communicate fundamental concepts of climate change science, climate change health impacts, and public health responses.

• Letter to the editor (500 words) (20%)
• Reflective essay (2,000 words) (30%)
• Online class participation (50%) (Hurdle)

12 hours per week, broken down into (on average) 4 hours per week for reading core material, 4 hours per week completing exercises (manual, computer-based, or online), 2 hours per week for online communication via Moodle discussions, and 2 hours per week for assignment preparation.

See also Unit timetable information

15 hours over 2 block days.

Public health