European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management", Interdisciplinary Expert Centre for Climate Change and Health (IECCCH), Hamburg, Germany.
Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2024 May 21;19(5):e0304019. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304019. eCollection 2024.
Climate change can have direct and indirect effects on human health. Direct effects can include an increase in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, as well as an increase in the spread of vector-borne and infectious diseases, which may lead to a set of health problems and diseases. Indirect effects can include changes in air quality, water availability, and food production and distribution. These changes can lead to an increase in respiratory problems, malnutrition, and increased food insecurity. There is a perceived need to investigate the extent to which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are engaged in efforts to foster a greater understanding of the connections between climate change and health. In this context, this preliminary investigation offers an overview of the relationships between climate change and health. By means of a survey among teaching staff and researchers at HEIs from 42 countries across all continents working on the connection between climate change and health. The study has investigated the extent to which current provisions for education and training on the connection between climate change and health are being considered and how current needs in terms of policy development, research, and training are being met. A series of case studies illustrate how universities worldwide are actively developing strategies and implementing measures to address climate change and health. The study concludes by providing specific recommendations aimed at facilitating the handling of issues related to climate change and health in a higher education context.
气候变化会对人类健康产生直接和间接的影响。直接影响包括极端天气事件的增加，如热浪和洪水，以及虫媒和传染病的传播增加，这可能导致一系列健康问题和疾病。间接影响包括空气质量、水供应和粮食生产和分配的变化。这些变化可能导致呼吸道问题、营养不良和粮食不安全状况加剧。人们认为有必要调查高等教育机构（HEIs）在多大程度上参与了努力，以增进对气候变化与健康之间联系的理解。在这种情况下，本初步调查概述了气候变化与健康之间的关系。本研究通过对来自各大洲 42 个国家的从事气候变化与健康联系的教学人员和研究人员进行调查，调查了目前对气候变化与健康之间联系的教育和培训的规定的考虑程度，以及如何满足政策制定、研究和培训方面的当前需求。一系列案例研究说明了世界各地的大学如何积极制定战略和实施措施，以应对气候变化和健康问题。研究最后提出了具体建议，旨在促进在高等教育环境中处理与气候变化和健康有关的问题。
