Educational scenario
Health and climate change
“Climate change, if unchecked, is an urgent threat to health, food supplies, biodiversity, and livelihoods across the globe. ”
Climate change is affecting human health in many and varied ways:
- injuries and even deaths as a result of increasingly frequent extreme weather events (storms, fires and floods);
- increase in infectious and parasitic diseases transmitted by animals;
- increase in deaths from overheating as a result of prolonged heat waves;
- aggravation of a number of lung diseases due to prolonged inhalation of fine dust particles in the air caused by dry and hot winds;
- increase in the number of problems related to mental health, heart disease, etc.
In addition, climate change undermines many of the social factors that determine people’s wellbeing, such as livelihood, equality and access to health care and social support structures.
All of these climate-sensitive health risks are felt mainly by disadvantaged people and/or more vulnerable groups – women, children, ethnic minorities, poor communities, migrants, elderly people and people with health problems.
Climate change threats to health
Present the Worksheet "Climate-sensitive health risks".
Discuss:
- factors influencing vulnerability to climate change;
- risks associated with climate change;
- capacity and sustainability of the health-care system.
Track possible health issues arising as a result of climate change. If necessary, research and share with the audience more information about some of the diseases that are more common in your region/town.
Climate-sensitive health risks
Profession Physician
Physicians play a vital role in minimising risks to human health and in raising awareness of the links between health and the environment, which in turn can promote citizen’s environmentally responsible behaviour.
Discuss with the students the information provided in the Worksheet "Physician Profession". Pay attention to the more important aspects underlying the program of the World Health Organization «Health and Environment». Which of the doctors' advices at the end of the worksheet do you think are applicable in your home, school and/or in the settlement you live in.
Physician Profession
On sea and mountain
Maria will spend her summer at the sea in a school camp, and Viktor will rest with his family in the mountains.
Divide the class into two and ask each group to make a list of the important things in Maria and Victor's luggage related to taking care of their health and considering their extended time outdoors. Lists can be represented by words or pictures.
Organize a group presentation. Fill them in if there are gaps. Comment on important outdoor health rules and possible health hazards.
Show to the students the World Health Organization (WHO) educational video "Climate Change and Health".
Discuss the following questions:
- How does WHO assess climate change issues?
- Which vital human activities are affected by climate change (food and drinking water supply, air pollution)?
- Which extreme weather events are most often due to climate change (heat waves, floods, forest fires)?
- What activities does the WHO recommend to stay healthy and not spend money (walking and cycling instead of driving; reducing the amount of processed and packaged foods; consuming tap water instead of bottled water and drinks)?
- Which population groups are most vulnerable to climate change (elderly people and chronically ill, children, pregnant women)?
- Who needs to work together to make the fight against climate change successful (governments, business, local communities and each of us)?
At the doctor's
After a preliminary preparation, organize a role-play/situational play - a visit at the doctor’s of student-patients who have suffered from heatstroke or sunstroke, have an allergy attack or have suffered from an insect bite/sting. Patients should have a prior idea of the symptoms, and the doctor(s) should be able to ask the right questions, make a diagnosis and give the right advice for action now and future recommendations for prevention. For young students, the teacher can also play the role of a doctor. You can complicate the game if your patients are part of vulnerable groups - young children, the elderly, expectant mothers.
Dangerous insects – far from home
Present and discuss the dilemma "Dangerous insects - far from home".
Dangerous insects - far from home
At the seaside and to the mountains
Maria will spend her summer at the seaside, in a school camp, and Viktor will rest with his family in the mountains.
Divide the class into two groups and ask each group to make a list of the important things in Maria and Victor's luggage related to taking care of their health and considering their extended time outdoors. Lists can be presented using words or pictures.
Organize a group presentation. Complete them, if there are gaps. Comment on important outdoor health rules and possible health hazards.
What the media is reporting
Assign students to track media and Internet reports about phenomena related to health and a changing climate for several weeks. Examples of that could be:
- Extreme weather events (storms, floods, fires) that have resulted in injury or death of people;
- Heat waves causing a number of diseases among the population;
- Increased risk of mosquito bites, ticks and other insects, carriers of various diseases;
- Impaired air quality due to the intrusion of fine dust particles from the Sahara;
- Deteriorated quality or lack of water due to prolonged drought;
- Reduced quality of agricultural production due to unfavorable climatic conditions, etc.
Ask the students collect photos and videos, if possible. On a certain day, ask them to share the results of their research activity.
Score: | 10
Question: | 10
Do research, gather information and prepare informational materials - flyers with advice on preventing and overcoming climate changes affecting health / heat and cold waves, intense sunshine and others/. Present the information at school and in the local media and organize the distribution of flyers to vulnerable groups – young children from kindergartens, elderly people.
Although our body is often abused, it can restore its balance. The first rule is to stop interfering with nature.
