Planetary and human health: planetary boundaries, climate change, and disaster risk reduction 

Module Aims

This module introduces the concept of planetary health. Participants will develop an understanding of key issues including climate change and planetary boundaries. The module is explicitly informed by the planetary health education framework (Guzman et al 2021). The module will be focused on how science can inform public policy in these areas. These issues are relevant in contexts all across the world. They will be particularly important for those pursuing careers in evidence based public health and policy making. 

 Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to: 

1. Explain planetary health, sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals 

2. Debate the anthropocene and planetary boundaries approach to understanding environmental issues 

3. Discuss how climate change, and other environmental changes affect health 

4. Appraise how action to address climate change can affect health and the role of health services in addressing climate change 

5. Describe how planetary health issues are related to social justice and wider social issues 

6. Develop a personal perspective on planetary health including an interconnectedness in nature 

7. Characterise approaches to complex system change including advocacy and movement building 

 Pre-requisites

• Principles of Public Health
• Principles of Epidemiology 

 Teaching Strategy

A mixture of taught sessions, usually in the morning, and participatory sessions in the afternoon.  Personal reflective log considering own role in relation to planetary health issues, with daily exercises to undertake. These will inform part of the assessment.   

Assessment

2-part written assessment 

Part 1: Structured written piece  

We would like you to write an essay on a planetary health topic which links epidemiology to policy and analyses a potential policy intervention related to this. It should be no more than 1200 words excluding references, tables, boxes, or figures. Please use the following structure: 

• Planetary Health Challenge  
• Context and Existing Policy Response  
• Proposal for a New Policy Intervention 

Part 2: Reflective writing 

We would like you to write a reflective piece based on a log of your learning in the module. We are looking for a clear description of your personal learning through the module and discussion of this in relation to your own values. We would like you to clearly identify actions you might take in the future for further learning and/or to take action in relation to planetary health.  

Students will be expected to consider their learning in relation to learning outcomes 5-7 above. This reflective writing should be no more than 500 words excluding references, tables, boxes, or figures. 

Module Length

4 days