Assessing climate change and health provisions among staff in higher education institutions: A preliminary investigation

To sum up, the results obtained in the survey involving respondents from across various geographical regions do demonstrate the need to further invest in climate change and health related education. HEIs have an essential role in dissemination of information and act as driv- ers of change within the society. Accordingly, and as highlighted in the results obtained, it becomes imperative to further invest so that the studied cycles of study are able to engage stu- dents, teachers and researchers to further commit with these issues, that will contribute to pro- mote an entire societal change, through the increased environmental awareness towards climate change and health impacts. 3.2 Case studies: Universities as key players in addressing climate change and health Around the world, there are already several inspiring projects from leading universities in cli- mate change and health. Table 4 illustrates how universities across the globe are working to formulate strategies and take measures aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on health. This collecting of information serves the purpose of contextualizing the data obtained from the survey. This process enhances the overall understanding and interpretation of the collected data by providing additional background and context, ensuring a more comprehen- sive analysis of the specific role played by HEIs in climate change and health initiatives. Natu- rally, the examples presented in the table mostly focus on developed countries, more easily

found in the scientific literature. This focus might arise due to a higher prevalence of research activities, resources, and data accessibility in developed nations. However, despite this imbal- ance, the examples laid out in the table are intended to serve as recommendations for actions to be pursued by developing countries. By examining the experiences and strategies imple- mented by developed countries, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in developing countries can derive valuable guidance. Additionally, this approach encourages a collaborative and adaptive approach to problem-solving. Developing countries can adapt and tailor success- ful strategies to their unique circumstances, considering factors such as cultural differences, resource availability, and healthcare infrastructure, emphasising the importance of shared learning and leveraging global experiences to accelerate progress in addressing common chal- lenges faced by both developed and developing nations. The topics covered in Table 4 are diverse but all related to sustainability, health, and well- being. Overall, these topics illustrate the importance of understanding climate change in the context of health, sustainability, and well-being in various settings. They also highlight some educational interventions research, and collaboration aimed at addressing these critical issues. One area where action is also needed is in respect of training needs assessment for climate change and health. These can guide the preparation of teacher education materials, new degree

programmes, and the integration of matters related to climate change and planetary health into the curriculum of health professions, training students to understand, evaluate, and assess climate changes and their impacts on health, fostering the development of adaptation and mit- igation strategies. Thus, contributing to health policy or focusing on transformative practices for understanding planetary health in the context of the African continent are only some of the undertakings summarized above. Universities can provide a key contribution to global efforts to fight against climate change. Their ability to generate knowledge, promote collaboration, and develop innovative solutions, by means of research, public awareness, education, and policy-making is more critical than ever [19, 20, 22], especially if one takes into account the increasing urgency to address climate change. PLOS ONE Climate change and health in HEIs PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304019 May 21, 2024 14 / 21