CliMigHealth Short Course on Climate, Migration and Health Interactions: Mechanisms of Mitigation, Adaptation, and Loss and Damage

The CliMigHealth Short Course offers an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of the links between climate change, human migration, and health. Through a blend of theory and practical case studies, participants engage with the complex ways in which climate change drives migration, impacts public health, and challenges systems of care—particularly for vulnerable populations. The program equips students to develop evidence-based policy, contribute to humanitarian response, and advance sustainable development. Key themes include the health effects of climate hazards (e.g., heatwaves, storms, flooding), and strategies for building climate resilience in healthcare systems.

CliMigHealth’s central hub at Ghent University has organised the first rotation of this short course in the format of a seasonal school right before the start of the academic year in September 2023, with the program to access here.  This transdisciplinary course brought together junior and senior doctoral researchers to explore the complex connections between climate change, human mobility, and health. In partnership with the University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and UNU-CRIS, the programme featured lectures and interactive sessions led by international academics and practitioners. Key themes included mitigation strategies, adaptation mechanisms, and governance responses to climate-related loss and damage. The course offered participants the opportunity to engage critically with current challenges and to expand their networks across disciplines. A public outreach event on 20 September, 2025 further extended the discussion to a broader audience, please find an overview of photos here.

As part of the broader CliMigHealth network, Stellenbosch University’s School of Climate Studies hosted the second rotation of the short course in January 2025 focused on Africa. titled: CliMigHealth Short Course on Climate, Migration and Health Interactions: Mechanisms of Mitigation, Adaptation, and Loss and Damage. The short course was part of their CliMigHealth Africa Hub program, strengthening regional collaboration in research and education. For a full program overview, please click here. To access the program of the 2025 short course, click here and a video reel of the week of lectures here.