Public Health Education Toolkit on Climate Change and Health

Addressing the health impacts of climate change is a critical skill set for public health professionals. Clear and unequivocal science as to the multifaceted impacts of climate change, particularly on human health, has become increasingly clear in recent years, as have the attribution studies linking human health outcomes to climate extremes. Climate change is a clear health issue that affects morbidity, mortality, and societies’ ability to deliver healthcare and support healthy living. Public health professionals are already on the front lines of this crisis even though many have no formal training in climate change and health. Schools and programs of public health play an essential role in training the current and future public health workforce. Yet, climate change is not always integrated into their curricula and degree offerings. Guidance regarding what skills and knowledge are needed among public health professionals, or a framework regarding how climate change and health can be integrated into existing programs can be supportive.

This toolkit, developed by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) in collaboration with the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), consists of guidance, examples and resources for schools and programs of public health to incorporate teaching on the intersection between climate change and health in their curricula. This toolkit identifies competencies and specific resources that can be used to meet them, as well as providing a sample course syllabi and frameworks for developing a climate change concentration.