Climate Change and Public Health
Topic:
This seminar serves to examine the complex public health implications of climate change. It further explores possible policy initiatives to combat these issues.
Readings:
Health and Climate Change: Policy Responses to Protect Public Health: Link to Reading
Rebranding Climate Change as a Public Health Issue: Link to Reading
Health Agencies Need Help Preparing for Climate Change: Link to Reading
Climate Change, Public Health, and Policy: A California Case Study: Link to Reading
(Optional) Quantitative Risk Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change on Selected Causes of Death, 2030s and 2050s: Link to Reading
(Optional) Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems: Link to Reading
Discussion Questions:
The 2015 Lancet Study states that “tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.” After reading the evidence, do you agree?
Will ‘rebranding’ climate change as a healthcare policy issue help to move it forward politically? Is there another policy it could be successfully linked with? For example, the Lancet Study mentions the global economic implications of climate change.
The California case study introduces the distinction between mitigation and adaptation policies toward climate change. Do these policies deserve equal research and funding, or is one more pertinent?
The proposed Climate Change Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2017 (mentioned in article 3) is currently in committee. Will it get lost in the political shuffle, or does it have a chance to be successful?
Ignoring all political complications, what core climate change policies would you like to see enacted within the next 10 years in the United States, and/or globally?
