Environment, climate change and health (ECH) for

practitioners and actors guiding policy change

Module 1: Introduction to ECH

Course outline

Module 1. Introduction to ECH:

• Background
• ECH cross-cutting concepts and topics
• Further resources.

Module 2. Air pollution. Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH). Climate change.

Module 3. Chemicals. Radiation. Solid waste.

Module 4. Environmental noise. Nature, biodiversity and health. Safe and healthy food. Transport,
mobility and physical activity.

Module 5. Priority settings for actions: occupational & workplace health; cities/urban settlements;
health care facilities.
Course learning objectives

The aim of this course is to suggest practical solutions and actions that you can take to reduce the large
disease burden caused by exposure to environmental risks, including by:
• recognizing the importance of environmental risks for health;
• describing key concepts in health and environment;
• pointing to the most important environmental exposures and related health impacts;
• listing available interventions and policies to reduce exposure to environmental risks and reduce
related disease burden;
• accessing and using available resources that help assess the situation in a specific country and to
choose the best course of action.
Module 1 learning objectives

This introductory module provides an overview of the significance of environmental risks to health,
important concepts in environmental health, as well as approaches and resources for action.

By the end of the module, you will:

‒ describe the key linkages between environmental risks and health outcomes;
‒ point to important concepts related to environment, climate change and health;
‒ outline the process of scaling up environmental health interventions; and
‒ refer to detailed resources with important information on exposure, burden of disease and practical
interventions to address environmental risks to health.
 What are the impacts of
environment and climate change on health
and
why should we take action?
 24%

¼ of all global deaths are

linked to the environment
(2016)

…and the impacts of

climate change are growing
Catastrophic consequences of inaction (1)
Catastrophic consequences of inaction (2)
UNGA adopts a Resolution Recognizing Clean, Healthy, Sustainable Environment as
Human Right
How is ECH linked to the SDGs?
ECH is key for ensuring progress on all UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Access to safe water,
sanitation and clean fuels;
Resilience to disasters.
Sustainable and resilient
food production; Access
to food; End of
malnutrition.
Good health
and well-
being
Schools with electricity
and safe water and
sanitation; Awareness on
sustainable
development.
Adequate access to
safe water and clean
fuel.
Access to safe water Adequate housing; Safe and
and sanitation; equitable transport systems;
Treatment of Clean air, safe water and
wastewater; Integrated adequate waste
water management. management.
Universal access to Equitable access to
Reduced waste; Reduced
modern energy information and
release of substance into
services; Increased resources; Participatory
the air.
renewable energy decision-making;
share. Institutional capacity.
Climate change
Safe work mitigation; Resilience, Cooperation and
environment; Healthy adaptation and impact knowledge transfer on
workforce.
reduction; Early warning. science, technology
and innovation for
Wastewater sustainable
Resilient infrastructure; development.
management;
Clean technologies;
Sustainable use of
Innovative transformation.
marine resources.
Reduced inequalities in
environmental Land conservation and
exposures; Equal access restoration; Protection
to basic environmental of biodiversity.
services and
infrastructure
How is ECH linked to the UHC?

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all individuals and communities can access the health
services they need without suffering financial hardship.
• Prevention and promotion are integral part of UHC and ECH.
• Many actions for healthier environments need to be ensured by the health system.

And:
• Health systems are threatened by increasing disease from climate change.
• Health systems, water supply, sanitation all need to become climate resilient in order to continue
to sustain health.
• Most pressure is on the most vulnerable (due to poorer access to WASH, housing, health care…).
How is ECH affecting children’s health?

• 28% of all deaths in children were estimated to be due to environmental risks.

• Children's health and development are at risk through various environmental risks such as air
pollution, unsafe WASH, lead, mercury, and pesticides. Harm through some of these exposures
may start as early as in-utero.
• Climate change and ecological degradation threaten the lives of all children.
• Children are especially vulnerable to environmental risks due to:
o developing organs, nervous and immune system, smaller bodies and airways,
o children ingesting more food, drinking more water and breathing more air compared to
adults proportionate to their size,
o unique pathways of exposure (i.e., transplacental and via breast milk), longer life expectancy,
o certain behaviours, such as putting hands and objects into the mouth and playing outdoors.

Sources: WHO 2018: Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks
WHO health topics: Children's environmental health
Thank you!
Please check the resources.

Photo credits

WHO / TDR / Andy Craggs slide 7

WHO / Rahmat Ali slide 7
FAO / Zinyange Auntony slide 7
WHO / Christopher Black slide 7
WHO / Pierre Virot slide 8
WHO / Diego Rodriguez slide 8
WHO / Conor Ashleigh slide 8