Planetary Health and Climate Change

About this course

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the greatest threats to global health in the 21st century. Its effects extend beyond environmental degradation, directly influencing disease patterns, healthcare delivery, and health system resilience. From extreme weather events and rising temperatures to food insecurity and mental health stressors, climate-related risks are already shaping the realities faced by patients and healthcare providers—particularly in climate-vulnerable countries such as the Philippines.

Primary care sits at the frontline of these challenges. As the first point of contact for individuals, families, and communities, primary care doctors are uniquely positioned to observe, manage, and respond to climate-sensitive health conditions. However, many healthcare professionals receive limited formal training on the links between climate change, planetary health, and everyday clinical practice. This gap highlights the need for structured education that connects climate science to real-world primary care settings.

This e-learning course provides essential background knowledge on climate change and planetary health, explaining how environmental changes affect human health through interconnected pathways. It examines key climate-sensitive health risks relevant to primary care, including heat-related emergencies, vector-borne diseases, extreme weather-related injuries, food and water insecurity, and mental health impacts.

By equipping primary care physicians with relevant knowledge, policy context, and practical strategies, this course empowers them to integrate climate considerations into clinical decision-making and community-level action. Understanding climate and health is no longer optional—it is a core competency for delivering safe, effective, and sustainable primary care in a changing world.