The adverse effects of climate change are now apparent and present urgent and complex challenges to human health and health systems globally. There is an imperative for quick action on many fronts: to recognize and respond to climate-health threats; prevent climate change at its source by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; support “greener” systems throughout the economy, including healthcare; understand the health co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation; and communicate effectively about these issues. Climate change is intertwined with historical and structural inequities and effective solutions must actively improve health equity. To meaningfully address these deep and interconnected issues, there is a growing imperative across the educational landscape to move beyond existing constraints toward new ways of thinking and learning. Many have recognized that we must create societal systems that account for the health of all people now and into the future while simultaneously preserving and improving the environment on which our life depends. Such transformations rest on the skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes of the workforce, not just in health and health care, but within all sectors. However, despite the health crisis of climate change at our doorstep, development of climate and health curricula is nascent, although is a growing consideration of leaders globally. Because the health impacts from climate and planetary change are so myriad and intertwined, sectors must work together like never before to move beyond existing silos of practice to a shared landscape and vision – in practice, but first in education.
The goal of this research topic is to profile case examples, transformational educational initiatives, reviews and viewpoints that contribute to furthering the design, conduct and success of educational and training programs that contribute to improving our capacity locally and globally to address the health threats of climate change. As climate and health education is beginning to grow on a global scale, we seek to elevate best practices, evidence-based methods, and regional approaches to educate a broad range of stake holders, including: students of all backgrounds, the public, educators, health workers, leaders and decision makers.
We welcome a broad spectrum of contributions that address:
• the what, why and how of climate and health education, which explore examples of defining the needs of society in a changing climate
• how we can prepare leaders of today and tomorrow to address the needs of society in a changing climate
By sharing our collective knowledge, this research topic seeks to increase the rate of dissemination of new ideas in order to multiply capacity building impacts across the globe.
The adverse effects of climate change are now apparent and present urgent and complex challenges to human health and health systems globally. There is an imperative for quick action on many fronts: to recognize and respond to climate-health threats; prevent climate change at its source by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; support “greener” systems throughout the economy, including healthcare; understand the health co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation; and communicate effectively about these issues. Climate change is intertwined with historical and structural inequities and effective solutions must actively improve health equity. To meaningfully address these deep and interconnected issues, there is a growing imperative across the educational landscape to move beyond existing constraints toward new ways of thinking and learning. Many have recognized that we must create societal systems that account for the health of all people now and into the future while simultaneously preserving and improving the environment on which our life depends. Such transformations rest on the skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes of the workforce, not just in health and health care, but within all sectors. However, despite the health crisis of climate change at our doorstep, development of climate and health curricula is nascent, although is a growing consideration of leaders globally. Because the health impacts from climate and planetary change are so myriad and intertwined, sectors must work together like never before to move beyond existing silos of practice to a shared landscape and vision – in practice, but first in education.
The goal of this research topic is to profile case examples, transformational educational initiatives, reviews and viewpoints that contribute to furthering the design, conduct and success of educational and training programs that contribute to improving our capacity locally and globally to address the health threats of climate change. As climate and health education is beginning to grow on a global scale, we seek to elevate best practices, evidence-based methods, and regional approaches to educate a broad range of stake holders, including: students of all backgrounds, the public, educators, health workers, leaders and decision makers.
We welcome a broad spectrum of contributions that address:
• the what, why and how of climate and health education, which explore examples of defining the needs of society in a changing climate
• how we can prepare leaders of today and tomorrow to address the needs of society in a changing climate
By sharing our collective knowledge, this research topic seeks to increase the rate of dissemination of new ideas in order to multiply capacity building impacts across the globe.
