MPH5042 · Planetary health

Overview

This unit will examine the health impacts of climate change, and the relevance of this to the principles and practices of public health. Informed by an understanding of the fundamental role of climate stability for sustained population health, and of evidence for anthropogenic global warming, the focus of the unit will be on direct and indirect mechanisms through which climate change affects health, including extreme weather events, changing patterns of vector-borne disease, water-borne infections, food quality and availability, air quality, and social disruption. There will be an emphasis on evidence for past and predicted health effects, health burden magnitude and distribution, and the complex interplay between population and environmental factors that influence vulnerability. You will apply this knowledge to critically appraise adaptation and mitigation initiatives from a public health perspective and will be expected to engage with current climate change issues and communicate your ideas clearly and effectively.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the causes and impacts of climate change
2. Analyse the implications of climate change for public health (including the impact on mental health, infectious disease, food and water security, natural disasters and severe weather events).
3. Identify the social and environmental factors that influence the vulnerability of populations to the health impacts of climate change.
4. Critique public health responses to the impact of climate change on health.
5. Design adaptation and mitigation responses to the impacts of climate change.

Workload

6 hours of teacher-directed learning activities per week, and 6 hours of self-directed study per week, plus 3 on-campus Block Days.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.