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Leal Filho W, Dinis MAP, Lange Salvia A, Sierra J, Vasconcelos H, Henderson-Wilson C, Diatta S, Kumar TVL, Meirelles MG, Carvalho F. Assessing climate change and health provisions among staff in higher education institutions: A preliminary investigation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304019. [PMID: 38771748 PMCID: PMC11108151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change can have direct and indirect effects on human health. Direct effects can include an increase in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods, as well as an increase in the spread of vector-borne and infectious diseases, which may lead to a set of health problems and diseases. Indirect effects can include changes in air quality, water availability, and food production and distribution. These changes can lead to an increase in respiratory problems, malnutrition, and increased food insecurity. There is a perceived need to investigate the extent to which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are engaged in efforts to foster a greater understanding of the connections between climate change and health. In this context, this preliminary investigation offers an overview of the relationships between climate change and health. By means of a survey among teaching staff and researchers at HEIs from 42 countries across all continents working on the connection between climate change and health. The study has investigated the extent to which current provisions for education and training on the connection between climate change and health are being considered and how current needs in terms of policy development, research, and training are being met. A series of case studies illustrate how universities worldwide are actively developing strategies and implementing measures to address climate change and health. The study concludes by providing specific recommendations aimed at facilitating the handling of issues related to climate change and health in a higher education context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Leal Filho
- European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Interdisciplinary Expert Centre for Climate Change and Health (IECCCH), Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
- Fernando Pessoa Research, Innovation and Development Institute (FP-I3ID), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Porto, Portugal
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Amanda Lange Salvia
- European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Javier Sierra
- Department of Applied Economics, Faculty of Law, Paseo Tomas y Valiente, Research Center on Global Governance, Educational Research Institute, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- European School of Sustainability Science and Research; Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Helena Vasconcelos
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
- OKEANOS—R&D Centre, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal
| | - Claire Henderson-Wilson
- Health Nature Sustainability Research Group, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Samo Diatta
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie des Sciences de l’Environnement et du Climat, Departement de Physique, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor, Ziguinchor, Senegal
| | - T. V. Lakshmi Kumar
- Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Studies, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
- School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Maria Gabriela Meirelles
- Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT), University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
- Center IɛD Okeanos, University of the Azores, Horta, Azores, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Carvalho
- Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, Afonso Chaves Observatory, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
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