Health Vulnerability, Climate Change, and Extreme Weather Disasters
Campus Information:
- Home Campus: UCSD
- Multi-Campus Collaboration: UCB, UCD, UCLA, UCR, UCSD, UCSF, UCSB
Abstract
The severity of disaster events, including floods, pandemics, droughts, and cyclones, has increased in the new millennium. With climate change, the risks facing California and the global community continue to grow in severity, frequency, and complexity. The proposed online course, “Health Vulnerability, Climate Change, and Extreme Weather Disasters,” will complement the UC Disaster Resilience Network’s (UC DRN) inaugural course, EEP 007 “Confronting Cascading and Concurrent Crises”, approved last year at UC Berkeley and UC Online.
This new course focuses specifically on the health impacts of climate change, extreme weather events, and disasters at the individual, local, regional, national, and international levels, while addressing methods to manage and reduce these risks. Drawing on expertise from UC campuses, the UC Health System, and international organizations, the course bridges theoretical and practical knowledge. Guest lecturers and contemporary case studies will provide students with hands-on learning and relevant insights into the full disaster chain.
Project Description
This online course aims to address the rising frequency and intensity of disaster events driven by climate change. Designed as a follow-up to EEP 007, this course emphasizes health vulnerabilities linked to extreme weather events and disaster management strategies.
Course Structure:
- Lectures: Held twice weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom (recordings available for review).
- Asynchronous Discussions: Hosted on Canvas.
- Topics: Cover exposure to natural hazards, risk vulnerability, and adaptive capacities.
- Framework: Based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Units Overview:
- Understanding Disaster Risk and Health Vulnerability
- Focus on extreme weather events (e.g., storms, heatwaves) and health vulnerabilities.
- Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance
- Explore local, regional, and international governance of climate-related disasters.
- Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction
- Develop emergency response plans and explore risk reduction strategies.
- Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response
- Reflect on case studies to propose solutions for reducing health vulnerabilities.
Proposed Schedule:
- Weekly sessions include lectures, discussions, and real-world case studies.
- Case studies cover California, the Pacific Islands, and international contexts.
Lecturers and Experts:
- UCB: David Zilberman, Ph.D. (Agricultural and Resource Economics)
- UCD: Isabel P. Montañez, Ph.D. (Earth & Planetary Sciences)
- UCLA: Nichole Bosson, MD, MPH, and others.
- UCSD: Alexander Gershunov, Ph.D., Tarik Benmarhnia, Ph.D., and others.
- UCSF: Mary Mercer, MD, MPH, FAEMS, and others.
- UCSB: Erika Felix, Ph.D.