Course Outline

This module aims to provide you with knowledge and critical understanding of the effects of global climate change on human health and health systems. We will focus on the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on health and health systems, how mitigation and adaptation can reduce these impacts, and how health systems can be made more climate resilient.

Climate change is already having negative impacts on human health and health systems and is one of the greatest challenges facing the world in the 21st century. In this module, we will examine how climate change affects health and health systems, how and why these impacts vary, and how they might be reduced.

You will examine how climate change affects health including: the impacts of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and drought; the impacts on maternal and child health; and changes in vector distribution in a changing climate. You will explore how and why these impacts vary between people and places including due to historical, economic, social, and environmental determinants. You will be encouraged to critically examine key strategies of adaptation which seek to reduce these impacts. You will learn how to conduct a vulnerability and adaptation assessment to assess impacts, vulnerability and potential adaptation strategies.

Taking a student-centred and problem-solving approach to facilitate deep learning, core information will be presented in class in lectures and face-to-face seminars, and groups work and tutorials will be available to students in Liverpool. The module is assessed by a 3500-word critical essay and a group presentation. Students are given the opportunity to explore both topical and geographical areas of interest through both assessments.

Topics will include:
• Introduction to climate change
• The impacts of extreme weather events (heat, drought, floods, fires) on health
• Vector-borne diseases in a changing climate
• Climate change, air quality and non-communicable diseases
• Climate change, mental health and disability
• Climate change and food and water-borne diseases
• Antimicrobial resistance and climate change
• One health: Health for people, animals and the environment

Key concepts and approaches will include:
• Exposure, vulnerability and risk
• Climate change mitigation and the impacts on health
• Adaptation and resilience, including building climate-resilient health systems
• Global and national Climate change frameworks and policies
• Vulnerability and adaptation assessments