Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Planetary Health

Course Description

The world is changing fast. Globally, mean temperatures are rising, forests are disappearing, oceans are rising, and droughts and floods are becoming more common, and more severe. Ever more people are moving to cities, many living in coastal regions are expected to be flooded out in the next several decades due to rising ocean levels. It is estimated that at least a billion people may become malnourished by 2050 as a result of the desertification and food shortages expected to result from global climate change, mostly in low-income settings. A high-level commission of the Rockefeller Foundation and The Lancet has drawn attention to the fact that the public health community in general is woefully unprepared for tackling the challenges of a dramatically changing environment on human health, including impacts on nutrition, food security, and access to freshwater. Planetary health is about the relationship between the health of the planet, and the health of people, who ultimately depend on the planet for survival of our species. It is a solutions-oriented, transdisciplinary field and social movement focused on analyzing and addressing the impacts of destabilized natural systems on human health and all life on Earth (Planetary Health Alliance, 2024).

Course Objectives

By the end of this course we want students to be able to: 

1. Explain how disruptions in Earth’s natural systems influence human health through changes in food, water, air, land and disease burdens.
2. Interpret and evaluate information on the complex relationships between human activities, health outcomes, and the state of natural systems through risk and vulnerability assessments.
3. Analyze the life cycle impacts of human actions on the environment and climate, with an understanding of historical and current social, political, and economic systems.
4. Integrate Western and Indigenous knowledge systems, including Indigenous science, which is systems-oriented, ecological, contextual, holistic, non-linear, and relational, valuing observation and recognizing the deep interconnectedness between traditional knowledge and nature.
5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the terminologies and concepts related to mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in addressing environmental and health challenges.
6. Collaborate effectively in inter- and transdisciplinary settings, supporting others in adopting sustainable habits, and actively participating in solutions-oriented work.
7. Critically reflect on personal biases, limitations in skills and knowledge, and areas for growth, while acknowledging one’s cultural, social, economic, educational, and professional position.
8. Demonstrate a commitment to ecological stewardship, cultural humility, and sustainable practices, recognizing the interconnectedness between personal values, traditional knowledge, and the responsibility to promote the well-being of local and global ecosystems.
9. Advocate for evidence-based policies, practices, and economic models that mitigate human stressors on Earth’s natural systems and support just and sustainable development approaches.
10. Effectively communicate both orally and in writing to scientific communities, lay audiences, policymakers, and media, emphasizing the urgency of safeguarding Earth’s natural systems to protect and promote human health and well-being.
11. Develop culturally-relevant, context-specific interventions that address disruptions to planetary health while promoting health equity and social justice.

Methods of Assessment

Participation	20%
Small individual assignments	40%
Weekly reflections	30%
24-hour food diary	5%
3-day food diary	5%
Final group assignment	40%