Week 2: Planetary Health & Climate Change

The overall objective of Module B: To introduce key concepts that are foundational to your understanding of “Why climate change is one of the triple threats and one of the nine planetary boundaries".

· What is climate change?

Long term shifts in weather patterns of a region such as temperatures. Can be caused by natural distubances but some are caused by greenhouse gasses.

· What is global warming?

Long term increase in earth’s average temperature

· What is “The Great Acceleration”?

Describes the rapid and widespread human activitiy and its impact on earth’s natural systems.

· What is “The Great Transition”?

Vision of more sustainable, equitable and ecologically resilient future. Values of social justice, wellbeing and planet.

· What has primarily driven climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution?

Human activity--> burning fossil fuels, deforestation, unsustainable food production, biodiversity loss (overfishing and overhunting, invasive species, demand for exotic species, pollution)

· Recognize examples of environmental racism.

Unfair exposure of racialized communities to environmental hazards- can include toxic waste, air pollution and climate change. Examples of it would be the GRassy Nattors First Naitions- Mercury pollution of the river in Ontario,

· Aamjiwnaang First Nation: Over 60 petrochemical facilities near the community in Ontario

· Africville: Toxic waste dumped in the community in Halifax, Nova Scotia

· Wet'suwet'en First Nation: A pipeline runs through the community in British Columbia

Other examples of environmental racism

· Siting polluting industrial sites near racialized communities

· Higher exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products

· Higher exposure to toxic chemicals in workplacesle

· Excluding people of color from leadership of ecology movements

· Poor water quality

· Lack of sanitation

· Noise from ground transportation

· What does action within the “Anthropocene and Health” domain of the Planetary Health Education Framework (PHEF) look like?

Understanding the relationship between human activities and the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving resources, eating a plant forward diet.

· What does the São Paulo Declaration on Planetary Health primarily focus on?

Outlines the actions necessary for us to achieve the great transition, a safe and just transformation to a world that optimizes the health and wellbeing of all. Global call to action

· What do the determinants of planetary health from an Indigenous consensus perspective focus on (what are the three interconnected levels)?

Mother earth level (focuses on the health and wellbeing of the natural environment), interconnecting level (relationships between humans and the natural world), indigenous peoples level (role and responsibility of the Indigenous communities).

· Recognize actions that mitigate the effects of climate change.

Energy use (energy efficient alternatives), transportation (carpooling), food choices (buy local), waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle), consumer choices (sustainable practicing producers)

· Be familiar with the concept of ecological grief or anxiety.

Psychological response to experiencing or anticipating the loss of species, landscapes and ecosystems due to Environmental changes. Deep sense of sadness, loss or because of witnessing or learning about environmental destruction, climate change, and the decline of natural ecosystems. has an impact on metal health and anticipatory grief.

· Recognize impacts of climate change on health.

Hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought, warming, rising ocean, loss of species, not enough food, more health risks, poverty displacement.