One Health - Human and Planetary Health

Recommended Prerequisites

English knowledge.

Teaching Methods

The course is given intensively (2 weeks) and will give more emphasis to the theoretical learning. 

Learning Outcomes

The central objective of this discipline is to understand that human health and wellbeing and the health of the biosphere are inextricably linked. The state of Earth’s life-support systems, including freshwater, oceans, land, biodiversity, atmosphere, and climate, affect human health. At the same time, the Anthropocene epoch is underway; human activities are profoundly changing the earth system. Global environmental changes, including biodiversity loss, the nitrogen cycle, and climate change, are exceeding the Earth’s planetary boundaries, with tipping points in multiple systems possible over the coming decades.  Promoting resilient and sustainable development are critical for achieving human and planetary health. We will therefore develop the following contents: (1) risk identification and management (water, hygiene, waste management); food production and consumption; oceans; and extreme weather events and climate change. (2) Strengthening climate-resilient health systems.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Socioeconomic Transitions Affecting Human and Planetary Health

Economic

Demographic and Social

Energy Systems

Urban Systems

2. Global Environmental Changes Affecting Human and Planetary Health

Climate Change

Food Safety and Security, and Dietary Changes

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Loss

Change in the Global Ocean

Air Pollution

Water and Sanitation Systems

3. The Research Agenda to Protect and Promote Human in the Context of Global Environmental Changes

Water, Hygiene, Sanitation, and Waste Management

Food Production and Consumption

Oceans

Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change

Strengthen Climate-Resilient Health Systems

Monitoring, Surveillance, and Evaluation

Risk Communication. 

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

- Steffen, W.; Rockström, J.; Richardson, K.; Lenton, T.M.; Folke, C.; Liverman, D.; Summerhayes, C.P.; Barnosky, A.D.; Cornell, S.E.; Crucifix, M.; et al. Trajectories of the Earth System in the Anthropocene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2018, 115, 8252–8259.

- Whitmee, S.; Haines, A.; Beyrer, C.; Boltz, F.; Capon, A.G.; Dias, B.F.D.S.; Ezeh, A.; Frumkin, H.; Gong, P.; Head, P.; et al. Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: Report of The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health. Lancet 2015, 386, 1973–2028.

- Steffen, W.; Richardson, K.; Rockström, J.; Cornell, S.E.; Fetzer, I.; Bennett, E.M.; Biggs, R.; Carpenter, S.R.; Vries, W.D.; Wit, C.A.D.; et al. Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science 2015, 347, 1259855

Horton, R.; Lo, S. Planetary health: A new science for exceptional action. Lancet 2015, 386, 1921–1922.