ENV441H1

Planetary Health: Environmental Change and Human Health

Unprecedented advances in science, technology, and economic development have improved the health and wellbeing of billions of people across the globe over the past century. However, these advances have led to rapid population and consumption growth that have resulted in rapid and extensive changes of the world's natural systems (e.g., climate, forests, ocean). Because environmental changes affect many aspects of our lives, e.g., the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and our exposure to diseases, there is a growing concern that these changes are increasingly contributing to the global burden of disease and will become a major contributor in the future. This course introduces students to the drivers and manifestations of global environmental changes and how these changes affect human health. Through readings, case studies, and discussions students will explore interdisciplinary approaches to analyze the complex relationships between natural systems and human health, explain inequitable health impacts of environmental changes, and identify solutions that sustain and improve human health while mitigating environmental degradation.