Environment, Climate Change and Health
We pursue a healthier environment by strengthening health sector leadership, building mechanisms for political and social support and monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals regarding environmental threats to health.
Basic training on environment, climate change and health

Basic training on environment, climate change and health

Online course for practitioners and actors influencing policy change

Environmental risks to health are responsible for about one quarter of the global disease burden. Decision makers need to be aware of the most important environmental exposures, exposure-disease links and available options and solutions for creating a healthier environments. Environmental health is integral part of disease prevention. This course provides an introduction to environmental health, covering key facts, figures and available interventions on the most important environmental risks including climate change, air pollution, water, sanitation and hygiene, chemicals and others.

The course includes:


Module 1: Introduction

Introductory module on overview of the importance of environmental risks to health, important concepts in environmental health and further resources.

Module 2: Air pollution, WASH and climate change

Most important exposures, health impacts and actions/interventions/policies on air pollution, WASH and climate change. 

Module 3: Chemicals, radiation, solid waste 

Most important exposures, health impacts and actions/interventions/policies on chemicals, radiation and solid waste including electronic waste.

Module 4: Biodiversity, noise, food and physical activity

Other environmental risks including environmental noise; biodiversity, ecosystems and health; safe and healthy food; and transport, mobility and physical activity.

NB: Only the environmental aspects of food and physical activity are covered here.

Module 5: Priority settings for action in ECH

Specific settings with great potential for environmental health action, such as occupational and workplace health; cities/urban settlements; housing; and health care facilities.