Planetary Health: Climate Change and Infectious Disease

Explore the relationship between climate change and infectious disease

Climate change is transforming the relationship between humans, non-human animals and the environment. This course examines how human activity has contributed to environmental changes that trigger infectious disease outbreaks worldwide.

You will explore the Anthropocene, where human activity has become a major force shaping climatic, environmental and geological changes. You will examine academic debates around this concept, including alternative perspectives such as the Capitalocene and Plantationocene.

Explore how climate change influences infectious diseases

You will investigate the impact of climate change on infectious disease outbreaks, focusing on dengue fever. Dengue is one of the world’s fastest-growing mosquito-borne diseases, with outbreaks influenced by changing environmental conditions, urbanisation and social inequalities.

You will explore factors contributing to dengue transmission, including climate conditions, environmental change and socio-economic determinants of health.

Examine approaches to managing global health challenges

Explore how governments and health organisations respond to disease outbreaks. You will consider policy approaches, political challenges and the importance of collaboration across sectors. You will also be introduced to the One Health approach, which recognises the connections between human health, animal health and ecosystems. You will explore how One Health and planetary health approaches can support responses to emerging health threats.

Understand planetary and global health

By completing this course, you will gain insight into the relationship between climate change, environmental health and infectious disease. You will reflect on how health professionals can address emerging global health challenges.

This course is designed for learners interested in planetary health, environmental health, climate change and global health challenges. It is suitable for:

• Health professionals interested in the impact of climate change on health
• Students and graduates interested in global health, public health or environmental health
• Professionals working in healthcare, policy, development or sustainability
• Anyone interested in understanding how environmental change affects disease patterns and health systems

No prior specialist knowledge is required, although an interest in global health, climate change or health inequalities will be beneficial.

This course is designed for learners interested in planetary health, environmental health, climate change and global health challenges. It is suitable for:

• Health professionals interested in the impact of climate change on health
• Students and graduates interested in global health, public health or environmental health
• Professionals working in healthcare, policy, development or sustainability
• Anyone interested in understanding how environmental change affects disease patterns and health systems

No prior specialist knowledge is required, although an interest in global health, climate change or health inequalities will be beneficial.

• Explain the concept of the Anthropocene in academic debate. 
• Explore the impact of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation on infectious disease outbreaks. 
• Identify the principal reasons for record-breaking dengue pandemics in the global south over the past few years.   
• Assess the socio-environmental determinants of dengue fever outbreaks.   
• Discuss critically different policy approaches to dengue fever outbreaks.    
• Reflect on the challenges of controlling dengue fever in times of accelerating climate change.