Climate and Health Capacity Building for Health Professionals in Europe: A Pilot Course

Objectives: The European Climate and Health Responder Course aimed to enhance health professionals’ knowledge, confidence, and preparedness to address climate-related health challenges. Methods: The course was delivered as a synchronous, online program targeting health professionals across diverse fields. Data on participant demographics, engagement, and knowledge improvement were collected through pre- and post-course surveys and course completion metrics. Statistical analysis measured changes in participants’ confidence and preparedness across targeted outcomes. Results: Of the 4,407 individuals who registered for the course, 21% completed the course, with the majority of them being from Europe and from academic and research institutions. The longitudinal survey revealed significant improvements in participants’ self-perceived outcomes across the three target domains from pre-course levels: communication, professional applicability, and self-efficacy. Conclusion: The pilot European Climate and Health Responder course highlights both the strong demand for and the effectiveness of climate change and health education for health professionals. The global interest further highlights the need for expanded climate-health education beyond the European Region.