Climate change and health from Coursera

Climate change and health is the third and final instalment of the wider Global Health Challenges and Governance specialisation from Imperial College London's Global Master of Public Health (GMPH). The scope and content of this course has been developed from the ground up by a combined team of academics and practitioners in collaboration with experts from Imperial College’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Through short video lectures, readings and a wide range of interactive activities, learners will be immersed in the intersection of climate change and health.

Designed for those new to the discipline, over four modules (intended for one week of learning each), learners will become familiar with the relationship between globalisation, environmental change and health. Learners will be introduced to climate change, its influence on individual and public health and implications for policy: whether new to the topic, or coming with a wealth of experience. By the end of this course, learners will be familiar with planetary health, global climate governance structures and climate policy instruments. Learners will also be able to analyse relevant policies, evaluate their adequacy for tackling global health challenges and recommend alternative approaches where appropriate.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Climate Change and Health

Planetary Health

This module begins by exploring the relationship between globalisation, environmental change and health. It provides a critical introduction to the Anthropocene: a new geological Epoch/Event, where humans are viewed as the primary driving force of environmental change. We then examine the linkages between global environmental change and the Anthropocene, specifically in relation to attempts to understand the connections between environmental change and human health on different scales.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the intersection of climate change and health, providing a comprehensive understanding of the topic

Suitable for both beginners and those with prior knowledge in the field

Instructors have expertise and experience in climate change and global health

Provides tools for analyzing climate change and health policies

Coursework includes interactive activities and a capstone project

Required for the Global Health Challenges and Governance Specialization from Imperial College London's Global Master of Public Health (GMPH)

Reviews summary

Essential overview of climate change and health

According to learners, this course provides a comprehensive and highly relevant exploration of the critical intersection between climate change and human health. Students praise its ability to introduce complex topics in an accessible manner, making it suitable for those new to the discipline while still offering valuable insights for professionals. The well-structured video lectures, combined with engaging readings and interactive activities, facilitate a deep understanding of planetary health and global climate governance. Many highlighted the course's strength in equipping them with analytical tools for health policy, demonstrating its practical application in addressing global challenges.

Interactive elements and well-produced materials enhance learning.

"The short video lectures were engaging and easy to follow, making the learning process enjoyable."

"I found the readings insightful and the interactive activities really helped to solidify my understanding."

"The course overall was very well-produced with high-quality materials that kept me motivated."

Equips learners with practical tools for health policy evaluation.

"The module on global health policy analysis was particularly useful; I can now critically assess real-world climate-health policies."

"I appreciated learning about the different climate policy instruments and their implications for public health."

"The case study approach to policy was excellent; it helped me connect theory to practical application."

Breaks down complex interdisciplinary topics into digestible modules.

"The lectures were clear and concise, making complex concepts of planetary health very easy to grasp, even for a beginner."

"I enjoyed how the course covered such a broad scope, from basic climate science to advanced policy analysis, in a logical flow."

"Even though I was new to some concepts, the course provided a solid foundation and didn't overwhelm me with jargon."

Addresses a critically important and contemporary global issue.

"This course provided invaluable knowledge on one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change and its impact on public health."

"I found the content incredibly relevant to current global challenges and my professional development."

"It's a very timely and crucial topic, and the course covered it comprehensively, which I appreciated."

Some topics could benefit from more detailed or advanced coverage.

"While excellent for an overview, I felt some specific health impacts could have been explored in more depth."

"I would have loved to see more advanced discussions on certain mitigation strategies or specific policy challenges."

"For those with some background, certain sections might feel introductory, and I wished for deeper dives."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Climate change and health with these activities:

Review epidemiology concepts

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Refreshes the student's knowledge of basic epidemiology concepts, which will help them better understand the course material.

Browse courses on Epidemiology

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Review your notes from previous coursework or study materials.
Do practice questions to test your understanding.

Complete practice problems on global health

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Reinforce your understanding of global health concepts and improve your problem-solving skills.

Browse courses on Global Health

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Identify key global health concepts
Practice solving problems related to global health
Check your solutions against answer keys

Planetary Health Simulation

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Participate in a simulation using a system dynamics model to understand the interactions between human health and climate change.

Browse courses on Planetary Health

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Read the provided materials and watch the tutorial videos.
Join an online simulation group and collaborate with others.
Run the simulation and analyze the results.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

One other activity

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Develop a policy brief on a global health issue

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Apply your knowledge of global health challenges and policy to create a tangible deliverable.

Browse courses on Global Health Policy

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Research a global health issue
Analyze relevant policies and data
Develop policy recommendations
Write a policy brief

Career center

Learners who complete Climate change and health will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Climate Change Communication Specialist

Climate Change Communication Specialists communicate the risks and opportunities of climate change to stakeholders. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the strategies that can be used to communicate these impacts to stakeholders. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Climate Change Communication Specialist, as you will need to be able to communicate the risks and opportunities of climate change to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Change Communication Specialist

Climate Policy Analyst

Climate Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies to address climate change. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the policies that are being developed to address it. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Climate Policy Analyst, as you will need to be able to develop and analyze policies that protect public health from the impacts of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Policy Analyst

Public Health Policy Analyst

Public Health Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies that aim to improve public health. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the policies that are being developed to address it. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Public Health Policy Analyst, as you will need to be able to develop and analyze policies that protect public health from the impacts of climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Policy Analyst

Health Advocacy Manager

Health Advocacy Managers lead advocacy campaigns to improve public health. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the strategies that can be used to advocate for policies to address these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Health Advocacy Manager, as you will need to be able to develop and lead advocacy campaigns to protect public health from the impacts of climate change.

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Health Impact Assessment Specialist

Health Impact Assessment Specialists assess the health impacts of policies and projects. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the methods that can be used to assess these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Health Impact Assessment Specialist, as you will need to be able to assess the health impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate these impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Impact Assessment Specialist

Climate Change Adaptation Specialist

Climate Change Adaptation Specialists help organizations and communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the strategies that can be used to adapt to these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Climate Change Adaptation Specialist, as you will need to be able to help organizations and communities adapt to the health impacts of climate change.

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Climate Change Analyst

Climate Change Analysts help organizations understand the risks and opportunities associated with climate change. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the science of climate change, its impacts on human health, and the policies that are being developed to address it. This knowledge will be invaluable for your work as a Climate Change Analyst, as you will need to be able to communicate the risks and opportunities of climate change to decision-makers.

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Climate Change Risk Assessor

Climate Change Risk Assessors identify and assess the risks of climate change to organizations and communities. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the methods that can be used to assess these risks. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Climate Change Risk Assessor, as you will need to be able to identify and assess the risks of climate change to human health.

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Environmental Health Inspector

Environmental Health Inspectors ensure that the environment is safe for human health. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as an Environmental Health Inspector, as you will need to be able to identify and mitigate environmental hazards that affect human health.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers are responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies for organizations. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the environmental and health impacts of climate change, and the strategies that can be used to mitigate these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Sustainability Manager, as you will need to be able to develop and implement sustainability strategies that protect the environment and human health.

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Environmental Epidemiologist

Environmental Epidemiologists study the relationship between environmental factors and human health. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the methods that can be used to study these impacts. This knowledge will be essential for your work as an Environmental Epidemiologist, as you will need to be able to study the health impacts of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate these impacts.

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Global Health Policy Advisor

Global Health Policy Advisors develop and analyze policies to address global health challenges. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the policies that are being developed to address it. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Global Health Policy Advisor, as you will need to be able to develop and analyze policies that protect public health from the impacts of climate change.

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Environmental Justice Advocate

Environmental Justice Advocates work to address environmental injustices that affect marginalized communities. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the disproportionate impact that it has on marginalized communities. This knowledge will be essential for your work as an Environmental Justice Advocate, as you will need to be able to develop and implement strategies to address the environmental injustices that affect these communities.

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Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses work to improve the health of communities. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change and the strategies that can be used to protect public health. This knowledge will be essential for your work as a Public Health Nurse, as you will need to be able to educate the public about the health impacts of climate change and implement strategies to protect public health from these impacts.

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Environmental Health Scientist

Environmental Health Scientists work to identify and mitigate environmental hazards that affect human health. By taking the Climate Change and Health course, you will learn about the health impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, air pollution, and waterborne diseases. This knowledge will be essential for your work as an Environmental Health Scientist, as you will need to be able to assess the risks of these hazards and develop strategies to protect human health.

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