Medical schools in Europe to expand climate-related health training

Medical schools across Europe are adding more courses on diseases and conditions worsened by the climate crisis, including mosquito-borne illnesses and heatstroke.

Kat Lay reports for The Guardian


In short:

  • A network of 25 medical schools led by the University of Glasgow will educate future doctors on the health impacts of climate change.
  • Training will cover diseases like dengue and malaria, heat-related conditions, and ways to reduce healthcare's carbon footprint.
  • Students will also learn to promote environmental health initiatives like walking, cycling, and "green prescribing" for patients.

Key quote:

"The doctors of the future will see a different array of presentations and diseases that they are not seeing now. They need to be aware of that so they can recognise them."

— Dr. Camille Huser, University of Glasgow

Why this matters:

The climate crisis is accelerating the spread of diseases once limited to the tropics and increasing health risks related to heat and pollution. Educating future doctors to manage these challenges can help protect public health as global temperatures rise.

Read more: Training the next wave of doctors in climate medicine

 United Nations logo at the UN headquarter in New York City

Climate complacency is a worry, says UN environment head

Trillions of dollars could be gained every year and millions of lives saved from protecting the climate and environment, according to the UN. DW speaks to Inger Andersen about what might help us get there.
Industrial complex with smokestacks near a body of water.

EU to weaken more environment reporting rules, draft document shows

The European Commission has drafted proposals to cut back more EU environment laws, targeting requirements for industries to report on their pollution and waste, a draft EU document seen by Reuters showed.
A large egg sculpture with a hole in the middle showing two hands with fingers touching, sitting on top of a metal pole.
Crédito: Matthew TenBruggencate/Unsplash

UN says world must jointly tackle issues of climate change, pollution, biodiversity and land loss

The United Nations says the world needs a new way of thinking about environmental crises threatening the health of people and the planet.
Offshore wind turbines with beachgoers in foreground
Photo by Junliang Deng on Unsplash

Federal judge finds Trump’s halt on wind energy is illegal

The president ordered a stop to permits for all wind farms on federal lands and waters. A judge called that “capricious.”
A man working on wires on a data server

Data centers for AI could nearly triple San Jose’s energy use. Who foots the bill?

AI’s planned data-center boom is straining California’s grid forecasts and raising fears that customers could pay for upgrades if projects never materialize.
An illustration of stacks of coins and an arrow going up to a house on the tallest pile of coins

Nowhere to move: How climate change became the property market’s biggest nightmare

From plummeting house prices to insurable homes, climate change is impacting the property market around the world.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.