Unit 8
Session duration: 6 academic hours, including:
- Lecture: 2 h,
- Workshop: 3 h,
- Reflection / Q&A: 1h.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Understand the role of governance, policy, and leadership in promoting climate-resilient health systems.
- Analyze national and global frameworks (WHO, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, SDGs).
- Evaluate climate-health integration in national adaptation plans and health policies.
- Propose context-relevant strategies for policy advocacy and cross-sectoral collaboration.
- Apply systems thinking to policy design in environmental public health.
Session format: Policy lab format combining theory, systems thinking, and real-time simulation of cross-sectoral governance
Inclusivity & sustainability focus:
- Builds leadership and advocacy capacity for health professionals.
- Encourages equity-centered and evidence-informed policymaking.
- Promotes systemic thinking for resilient and sustainable health systems.
Discussion questions:
1. What policy instruments are most effective for climate-health governance?
2. How can ministries of health work with other sectors (e.g., transport, energy, agriculture)?
3. What is the role of international agreements like the Paris Accord or Sendai Framework?
4. How do we ensure accountability and implementation at the local level?
5. What does good leadership look like in building climate-resilient health systems?
The instructor:
- Presents case studies from countries with successful climate-health policy integration.
- Leads a mock inter-ministerial roundtable on climate-health priorities.
- Shares policy mapping templates and advocacy tools.
Students:
- Roleplay: health policy advisor presenting to government committee.
- Group task: analyze one national climate-health policy and identify gaps.
- Design a 1-page policy brief targeting a real public health authority.
- Reflect on their role as future leaders in climate-resilient governance.
Assignments
Before the session: 1) Read: WHO Operational Framework for Climate-Resilient Health Systems; 2) Watch: SDG 13 & Health – United Nations explainer video.
During the session: 1) Participate in roundtable simulation and peer feedback; 2) Begin development of group policy brief.
After the session: 1) Submit Diary #8: “Building a climate-resilient health system: policy gaps and my role”; 2) Finalize and submit group policy brief (graded with bonus +10 pts to course total).
Recommended reading & resources:
- WHO. Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems (2015): https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/operational-framework-for-building-climate-resilient-health-systems.
- SDG 13& Health – UN explainer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2UpV5jvu7E;
- UNFCCC Health and Climate Country Profiles: https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/nwpstaging/pages/item.aspx?ListItemId=28604&ListUrl=/sites/NWPStaging/Lists/MainDB&SearchId=982a1557-64be-f535-662e-fe7f86a214dc; https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/climate-change-and-health/evidence-monitoring/country-profiles.
- The Lancet Countdown Policy Briefs (Global and Country-level): https://www.thelancet.com/countdown-health-climate/about; https://lancetcountdown.org/.
- UNEP: Climate Action. https://www.unep.org/topics/climate-action; https://sdg.iisd.org/news/unep-who-launch-partnership-on-environmental-health/.
- SDG 3 & 13 Implementation Toolkits: https://www.oecd.org/cfe/oecd-toolkit-for-a-territorial-approach-to-the-sdgs-291
- WHO Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All. https://www.who.int/initiatives/sdg3-global-action-plan#:~:text=Frequently%20asked%20questions-,The%20Global%20Action%20Plan%20for%20Healthy%20Lives%20and%20Well%2Dbeing,action%20and%20progress%20in%20countries.