The Climate Resources for Health Education Initiative: Accelerating Professional Education in Climate and Health

Abstract Multiple international reports, peer-reviewed studies, and medical organizations have documented that climate change–defined as the rapid, long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns driven primarily by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels–is already affecting human health and well-being. Recently, many health professional organizations have called upon current and future health professionals to acquire the knowledge, skills, and agency to address this public health threat. The Climate Resources for Health Education (CRHE) project was created by students, trainees, and faculty through the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education to address this gap. The CRHE program provides organized, comprehensive, evidenced-based, peer-reviewed, and freely accessible climate health learning resources that can be delivered in standalone sessions or integrated into existing curricula. This manuscript details the innovative, grassroots, and trainee-led approach to developing this educational resource, designed to support educators and learners to incorporate climate change and planetary health information into health curricula. To date, there have been over 400 unique individuals consisting of trainees and faculty that have contributed to the CRHE project. A survey of a small subset of CRHE volunteers (34 respondents of 95 invited volunteers) demonstrated that CRHE participation had positive impact on reciprocal mentorship, knowledge gained in climate and health, and experience in curriculum development. In summary, the CRHE program is a comprehensive, free online resource that aims to help close the gap between the documented health impacts of climate change and the extent of its integration into medical education.