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

4. Conclusions This paper has reported on a study on the current state of education and training on climate change and health across 42 countries worldwide, i.e., Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gam- bia, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The survey was conducted among teaching staff and researchers at HEIs working in this field, aimed at identifying gaps in knowledge and skills among educa- tors and researchers, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating cli- mate change and health into the higher education curricula. The findings from the survey including participants from diverse geographical regions, unequivocally underscore the urgency of increased investments in education about climate change and its intersection with health. HEIs are pivotal entities in the dissemination of crucial information and promotion of training on climate change. As such, they are also catalysts for societal transformation. As delineated by the survey results, it is important to intensify efforts at universities, with educa- tional programs to effectively involve both, staff and students, as well as the organisations they work with. This heightened commitment is indispensable for fostering a comprehensive socie-

tal shift, marked by heightened environmental consciousness regarding the implications of cli- mate change on health. By fostering awareness and promoting engagement at various educational levels, HEIs can collectively contribute to ushering in a broader societal change in attitudes and actions towards these pressing issues. The information collected through case studies shows that various initiatives have been undertaken in HEIs, including conducting training needs assessments for climate change and health, creating teacher education materials, or training students to comprehend and assess cli- mate change impacts on health. These endeavors also involve fostering the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, contributing to health policy, and focusing on transfor- mative practices for understanding planetary health. Together, these initiatives reflect a global commitment within HEIs to address the intersection of climate change and health, showcasing diverse approaches and impacts. Table 4. (Continued) Institution Case study title Approach used Impact Reference University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Teaching in climate change and planetary health Planetary health module in a medical curriculum More than 1,700 researchers from multidisciplinary disciplines; Integration of planetary health and climate change into the competencies of future health workers [67, 68] University of Tokyo, Japan Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science of the University of Tokyo (IR3S) International academic journal; Editing academic books in sustainability science;

17 series academic Journal 3 academic books [69, 70] Barcelona Institute of Global Health, Spain UOC-UPF-ISGlobal Program Master of Planetary Health Add skills to workers at NGOs, sanitary services, and private business sector [71] University of São Paulo, Brazil Global Health and Sustainability Program (PPG-SGS) PhD in consolidating the field of critical studies on global health, exploring its interface with sustainability Provide skills to researchers, public agents, and other professionals working in health and the environment [72] University of Ghana Teaching and Learning for Public Health-Undergraduate Program Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) Professionals with mid-level technical and leadership skills for the health sector in Ghana [73] https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304019.t004 PLOS ONE Climate change and health in HEIs PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304019 May 21, 2024 16 / 21