Address adverse health impacts of climate change. Learn how climate change negatively affects human health, what adaptation strategies can lessen the impacts, and how to communicate effectively about these issues to bring about change in your community.

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Climate Change and Health: From Science to Action SpecializationYale University

What you will learn

Describe how and why the climate is changing and is predicted to change in the future

Understand how climate change negatively impacts human health

Plan for at least one practical adaptation activity that increases a community’s resilience to the health effects of climate change

Communicate health-related risks of climate change effectively to the public & policymakers & motivate positive changes in climate-related behaviors

Skills you will gain

Health CommunicationHealth EquityProblem SolvingClimate Adaptation PlanningClimate ScienceInfectious DiseasesPopulation HealthEpidemiologyAdaptation action planningReadiness asessmentsClimate exposure prioritizationClimate and health data navigation

About this Specialization

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Climate change is arguably the greatest public health threat we face. To address it successfully, health and environmental professionals, advocates, and others need to acquire new skills and a deeper understanding of its challenges and solutions. This specialization is for those who wish to understand the impact of climate change on health and are committed to protecting the health of populations using the knowledge and skills they will acquire.

Applied Learning Project

Learners will apply the course content through projects in which they identify how climate change affects health in a specific location, devise an adaptation action to address this negative impact, and create a communications campaign to educate a target audience about the issue.

Learner Career Outcomes

33%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Basic knowledge of climate change. A course in natural sciences and/or human health may be helpful, but not required

Approximately 3 months to complete

Suggested pace of 4 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish

Learner Career Outcomes

33%

Started a new career after completing this specialization.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Beginner Level

Basic knowledge of climate change. A course in natural sciences and/or human health may be helpful, but not required

Approximately 3 months to complete

Suggested pace of 4 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, Spanish

How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 3 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Introduction to Climate Change and Health

4.8

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554 ratings

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124 reviews

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. Yet these impacts to health are still not well recognized. Since you can’t change what you don’t understand, this course is designed to equip health and environmental professionals, as well as other changemakers and the public, with critical and usable knowledge to take positive action. The course begins with an introduction to the science of climate change and how climate change affects human health. It takes a deep dive into climate change’s adverse health effects, including those related to extreme heat, waterborne infections, insect-borne diseases, and exposure to storms and floods. Throughout, the theme of health equity is interwoven by pointing to what factors make some populations more vulnerable than others to climate change’s negative health impacts. Finally, the course explains how measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can not only limit future climate change but can also generate substantial immediate health “co-benefits” over and above the benefit of reducing climate change.

Following completion of the course, students will be able to: · At an introductory level, describe how the climate has changed, explain the role of greenhouse gases in climate change, and describe how the climate is predicted to change in the future. · Describe how climate change adversely impacts population health, with differing vulnerability across population sub-groups, through direct effects; through ecosystem transformation and degradation; and through the stress it places on political, economic, and social systems. · Explain how adaptation and mitigation strategies can reduce adverse health impacts of climate change and can generate substantial non-climate health benefits in a just and equitable manner.

Course2

Course 2

Climate Adaptation for Human Health

4.5

stars

96 ratings

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25 reviews

The world’s climate is changing, and among the most significant negative consequences is to human health. While climate change is a global health issue, its health impacts vary across geographies and populations. In this course, you will learn why taking action to plan for and adapt to climate change is necessary for protecting human health, as well as what kinds of actions are most appropriate for a particular location and population. You also will learn tools and strategies to effectively plan for and enact adaptation actions that build resilience to climate change’s negative effects.

Course3

Course 3

Communicating Climate Change and Health

4.7

stars

80 ratings

•

23 reviews

How can you persuasively discuss the negative effects of climate change on human health to motivate change in your community? How do you encourage your friends, family, neighbors and community leaders to take meaningful action to address these impacts? In this course, you will learn to communicate the health-related risks of climate change effectively to the public and policymakers and motivate positive changes in climate-related behaviors. Starting with a review of best practices in health risk communication, the course examines the specific challenges of climate change communication and successful strategies to address these challenges. Throughout the course, you will build a step-by-step plan for developing and delivering a communications campaign.

Instructors

Offered by

Yale University

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.
Can I take the course for free?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
Learners can expect to complete the specialization in 12 weeks.
Learners can expect to engage with course materials for 3-5 hours per week.
What background knowledge is necessary?
A course in natural sciences and/or human health may be helpful, but not required
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
Yes. It is recommended that you take the courses in the following order:
Introduction to Climate Change and Health
Climate Change Adaptation
Climate Change Communication
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
University credit is not offered for completing this Specialization. Learners who complete the Specialization will receive a Coursera certificate signed by the Faculty director.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
Learners who complete the Specialization will be able to identify how climate change affects health in a specific location, devise an adaptation action to address this negative impact, and create a communications campaign to educate a target audience about the issue.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.