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

Table 4. Examples of inspiring projects from universities worldwide addressing climate change and health. Institution Case study title Approach used Impact Reference Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany Research and Technology Transfer Sustainability and Climate Change Management Training on climate change Editing book series on climate change Over 3.000 academic staff Over 15 books Participation at IPCC´s Assessment Reports [22, 49, 50] University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Teaching and Learning for Climate Change Teacher education materials development, high school material design, and the design and implementation of a new tertiary- degree offering centred on teaching and learning for climate change University-level graduates, teachers, facilitators of learning, young school-going learners and adult learners [51] School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi Training needs assessment for climate change and in relation to health Cross sectional qualitative study design involving primary data collection and review of curricula documents of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered at several HEIs 1 book; Reviewed curricula for several Bachelor and Master degree; Trainings in gender, climate change and intersection with health [52] International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), Denmark Research about planetary health in every medical curriculum Student exchange program; Research project Planetary health in the medical curriculum;

More than 15,000 students per year, more than 130 countries involved; Practice medicine or medical research in a new cultural environment [53, 54] Yale School of Public Health, USA Climate Change and Health Online Certificate Program Build a professional network, forge connections with other participants [55] University of Miami, USA Varied strategies Master program of Science in Climate and Health, research, various thesis Train students in understanding, evaluating, and assessing short- and long-term climate and weather changes, their direct and indirect impact on disease and disability burden; Prepare students to develop adaptation, mitigation, healthcare and communication strategies [56] American Association of Colleges of Nursing, USA AACN’s programs Webinars Training for nursing educators who teach in bachelor’s and graduate programs [57] University of Sydnei, Australia Human Health and Social Impacts Node Research Forum Sources of health and climate change information [58] Australian National University, Australia College of Health & Medicine Research projects Health policy [59] University of Nairobi Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) Plenary session Transformative practices that can help better understand planetary health and its implications for the African continent [60] Columbia University, USA Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education Work together with health professionals to prevent, reduce, and respond to the health impacts of climate change. Courses 300 health professional member institutions from 56 countries;

Reaching an estimated 175,000 students annually More than 240 member institutions and partners [61] University of Colorado, USA The consortium takes lead in studying climate change effects on health. Climate & Health Program Research, education Research and community partnerships set up, faculty members engage with health care professionals [62] University of Washington, USA CHanGE Mentoring, certificate program, technical review, climate change modeling Prioritize health in climate change, mitigation, and adaptation, incorporate climate resilience into all health sector activities [63] Heidelberg University Hospital, German Massive Open Online Course— MOOC E-learning formats on climate change and health for higher education, health staff, and policy makers 23 000 students passed; 253 got perfect scores; 410 online students outperformed the top [64, 65] Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA Climate and Health Certificate Program Courses explore the effects of energy production and climate change on food, water, air, and human health, through the lens of social justice. Prioritize climate change and its effects on public health, and ways to mitigate the impacts [66] (Continued) PLOS ONE Climate change and health in HEIs PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304019 May 21, 2024 15 / 21