Climate Change Policy and Public Health

Week 1: Week 1 will explore crucial background information for this course, including the scientific consensus on climate change and its known impacts on health.  Students will also review the Lima Decision, where at the 20th Conference of the Parties held in Lima, health concerns were explicitly mentions for the first time as a requirement for countries to consider in their formal policy planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Week 2: Week 2 will cover the health “Co-Benefits” of renewable energy and  efficient housing, with a detailed look at how burning fossil fuels impacts air pollution and health.  Students will also explore air quality legislation in India. 

Week 3: Week 3 will focus on the health “co-benefits” of sustainable agriculture, and introduce students to some missed opportunities in agriculture policy.  Students will review the US-Farm Bill, one of the most influential pieces of legislation controlling land management in the United States.

Week 4: The final week of the course will feature the health “co-benefits” of active transportation and smart urban design.  Students will evaluate Sweden’s “Vision Zero” initiative and consider polices that support active transportation and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.  

• Jonathan Patz - Director, Global Health Institute