ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health

There is an emerging awareness of the extent of climate change, land use change, urbanisation, deforestation and globalisation. These environmental change drivers may have significant impacts on human and societal health. This topic will investigate the mechanisms by which health outcomes are associated with these drivers. It will critically evaluate the potential for intervention and mitigation to improve health, These may include actions ranging from the individual and local level (e.g. avoiding exposure to agricultural chemicals or local initiatives for materials recycling) to broader population and global interventions (such as international treaties and agreements).The topic will also identify the characteristics of individuals and communities at greatest risk from environmental change.

This topic aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the ways climate change may influence human systems and particularly may impact on human health.

1. Identify the main global environmental change drivers
2. Understand how each of these drivers lead to specific human health outcomes
3. Generalise global environmental change drivers in other aspects of environment-society interaction
4. Evaluate interventions that may mitigate environmental change impacts