Course starts: February, 2016
Open to: Everyone is welcome for this MOOC, but may be of special interest to health professionals, teachers, journalists, meteorology and climate scientists, everyone who may be interested in health impact of the climate change
Costs: Free / 29EUR Statement of Participation
About this course
Climate change is currently at the center of the world’s attention, after delegations from more than 190 countries met in Paris for the COP21 at the end of 2015, to negotiate an agreement how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming under 2°C.
There are not many world citizens who do not have their children’s and their own health as a top priority. So why is health not more prominent topic in the debate on climate change and its impacts? We hear a lot about polar bears and smokestacks in the media, but very little on the many and the large health impacts of climate change. With this MOOC, you will be provided with a state-of-the art evidence of the link between climate change and the health of populations.
Who is this course for?
The course is addressed to the general public from all parts of the world.
Health professionals may have a special interest and are very welcome, so are teachers and journalists, who may use this MOOC to disseminate the evidence provided. People working in meteorology and climate sciences, too, may be interested in health impacts and are welcome. In this interface between health and climate, there are few experts. So every interested global citizen, whether expert or not, is welcome to chime in.
What do I need to know?
The course does not require any knowledge about the climate system and climate change. You do not have to be a health person to follow as we cover ground on the link between climate change and health that will be new even for medical doctors. Of course you should be reasonably comfortable with English, not the least to be able to participate in the many interactive platforms and exercises offered during this MOOC.
What will you learn?
Knowledge:
You will become familiar with the nature of health impacts worldwide, and for your country in particular. Further you will get to know best practices from around the world in adaptation strategies and the promotion of health co-benefits. There will be discussion forums for disease- and target-group specific interest groups, e.g. a forum on child malnutrition from climate change or health effects on the elderly.
Skills:
You will analyse your country as a case study throughout the course and share this work with other course participants on the country-specific platforms of the course. You will understand the limits and strengths of your own country’s climate adaptation plan.
Action:
Hence you will be able to engage national and local policy makers to improve health protection from climate change in your country. Interviews with national policy-makers will be part of the course.
Prize
Three best participants will have course fees waved (travel costs is to be at the expense of the participants) to participate at Prof. Rainer Sauerborn’s in-depth presence course at Heidelberg University “Climate change and health: impacts and adaptations”, running from July 18-29, 2016.
How to enroll?
You can enroll for free to the course at the iversity platform HERE. The course is self-paced and is to start February 2016.
