Climate Change and Health
Understand and describe the impact of climate change on human health, to enhance climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation efforts.
Type
Domain
Competency Area
Climate Change
Levels
Links climate change and health
Differentiates between weather, climate, climate variability, and climate change
Lists effects and impacts of climate change on health (extreme and sudden weather conditions, land use changes, food security and safety, human migration and urbanisation, etc.)
Documents the shift in climate change narratives, from emissions reductions to the expansive interactions between health and climate change
Aware of public health responses to climate change
Describes the three ways in which climate change can influence health outcomes (direct pathway, ecosystem-mediated pathway, and societal systems/human institutions-mediated pathway)
Demonstrates knowledge of existing public health responses to the risks of climate change (legislative policies, alterations in built and natural environments, early warning systems, vector control programs, etc.)
Understands the role of climate co-benefits in the implementation of mitigation and adaptation policies
Investigates climate change and health
Identify events and conditions where climate change can undermine the effectiveness of existing health systems
Demonstrates knowledge of tools that can help assess, plan, and finance interventions on climate change and health (Air Q+, HEAT, GreenUR, BAR-HAP, etc), as well as current gaps in assessing climate risk and impacts on health
Recognises types of analysis that can be used to investigate the relationship between climate change and health (observational, model-based, etc.)
Forecasts health impacts of climate change
Conducts vulnerability assessments to monitor and evaluate the adaptation plans
Integrates climate change related evidence and projections into current and future climate resilient, adaptation, and mitigation efforts
Forecasts climate and environmental changes and their associated health outcomes using a range of tools (Air Q+, HEAT, GreenUR, BAR-HAP, etc.)
Promotes health adaptation to climate change
Communicates the evolution of the climate-health imperative by framing the message, localising the issue, and using co-benefit examples
Leverages windows of opportunity that allow for an integration of climate related health outcomes into local, regional, and national plans
Informs health sector measures for emissions reductions