Climate Change, Coastal Waters and Health: Risks and Solutions
Explore how climate change affects coastal waters and health, and discover practical ways to respond.
Duration
7 weeksWeekly study
4 hoursLanguages
English, Español, Italiano, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Español, Italiano100% online
How it worksDigital upgrade
Free
Climate Change, Coastal Waters and Health: Risks and Solutions
To understand climate-health impacts and learn from experts shaping adaptation.
Understand how climate change is affecting coastal waters and the health of communities living near them. Rising temperatures, changing water quality, and shifting pathogen patterns create new public health challenges worldwide.
This course helps you understand these connections, from waterborne infections and bacteria to adaptation planning and policy responses. You’ll explore scientific evidence, assessment tools, and practical solutions without needing a technical background.
About BlueAdapt
BlueAdapt is an 11-partner European research project exploring how climate and environmental change affect coastal waters and human health, and how we can better understand and reduce these risks. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Understand climate and coastal health connections
Learn how climate change alters coastal environments and why those changes matter for public health. You’ll explore the science behind waterborne infections, bacteria, and viruses in coastal settings.Understanding these foundations helps you recognise the health risks facing coastal communities.
Explore assessment tools and frameworks
Discover methods used to study and respond to climate-related health impacts, including models, health impact assessment and the One Health framework. You’ll learn how these approaches can support better decisions.
Apply adaptation strategies in practice
Examine early warning systems, adaptation planning, and policy responses that reduce risks in coastal areas. Through case studies from Europe, you’ll see how different regions address climate and health challenges.
By the end, you’ll connect science, policy, and practical action to support coastal community resilience.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to BlueAdapt and Climate Change
Welcome to BlueAdapt Online Course
Discover the BlueAdapt project and explore why understanding the links between climate change, coastal environments and human health is increasingly important.
Exploring Climate Change and Coastal Waters
Explore how climate change is affecting European coastal environments and why these changes matter for ecosystems, water quality and human health.
Climate Modelling in BlueAdapt
Explore how BlueAdapt uses climate models and datasets to investigate future changes in European coastal environments and understand climate-related risks.
Explore Real-World Research
See how climate modelling can help researchers understand changing climate risks through real-world examples from European research.
Further Resources
Continue exploring BlueAdapt and the wider European climate and health research community through additional resources and publications.
Challenge yourself: Climate and climate modelling
Test your understanding of climate modelling, future climate scenarios and how BlueAdapt uses climate projections to explore future risks.
Week 2
Climate Change and Pathogens
Welcome to Climate Change and Pathogens
Get started with Week 2 and explore how climate change is reshaping pathogen risks in coastal waters. Meet Vibrio bacteria and discover why changing environmental conditions matter for public health.
Exploring Pathogens in a Changing Environment
Explore how climate change can influence antimicrobial resistance and viral infections, from environmental pathways to emerging outbreaks. See why monitoring and a One Health approach are essential for understanding changing risks
Vibrio: A Closer Look
Take a closer look at Vibrio bacteria and their growing health risks in a changing climate. Explore transmission routes, environmental drivers, and how monitoring and early warning can support coastal communities.
Predicting Coastal Health Risks
How can we predict health risks in changing coastal waters? Explore how numerical models simulate pathogen movement, identify potential risk hotspots and support decisions to protect coastal health.
Share your perspective: Climate, Pathogens and Coastal Health
Bring together what you’ve learned this week and reflect on how climate change can reshape pathogen risks. Share your thoughts on where monitoring, modelling and early action could make the greatest difference.
Week 3
Understanding the One Health Framework
Welcome to One Health
Discover the principles of One Health and explore how this approach helps us understand and address complex health challenges.
Exploring the BlueAdapt One Health Approach
Explore how BlueAdapt applies One Health principles through its framework, salutogenic approach and Living Labs to understand and address coastal health risks.
Explore One Health Resources
Explore visual and policy resources that bring the BlueAdapt One Health Framework to life and extend your learning.
Challenge Yourself: One Health Framework
Reflect on the key ideas from this week and test your understanding of the One Health and Living Lab approaches.
Week 4
Health impact assessment (HIA) and modelling
Welcome to Health Impact Assessment and Modelling
Start by exploring the key ideas behind Health Impact Assessment and modelling, and discover how they can help us connect environmental change, exposure and health outcomes.
Understanding the Health Impact Assessment Method
Explore the key stages of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) method and discover how environmental, exposure and health data are combined to estimate potential health impacts.
Applying HIA in BlueAdapt
Discover how BlueAdapt uses research evidence and risk estimates to explore potential health impacts and the benefits of reducing environmental risks.
Reflect and Check Your Understanding
Bring together what you have learned about HIA, evidence and modelling, and reflect on how these approaches can support health-focused decisions.
Week 5
Valuing Changes in Health
Welcome to Valuing Changes in Health
Explore why valuing health impacts from coastal waters is important and how economic evidence supports policy and adaptation decisions.
Understanding the Economic Burden of Illness
Discover how economists measure the impacts of illness and why broader valuation methods are needed to inform policy decisions.
Share your perspective: Valuing Changes in Health
Reflect on how economic valuation supports healthier coastal communities and discuss its role in environmental decision-making.
Week 6
Adaptation in Practice: Tools and Case Studies
Welcome to the Adaptation in Practice Week
Discover how BlueAdapt research is translated into practical adaptation tools and real-world examples.
Adaptation Planning in Practice
Discover practical tools that help communities plan and implement climate adaptation.
Early Warning Systems for Coastal Health
Explore how forecasting systems and digital tools help reduce health risks in coastal waters.
Monitoring and Coastal Adaptation
In this section, you will explore European case studies and discover how coastal monitoring can support adaptation and help protect public health.
Challenge Yourself: Adaptation in Practice
Test your understanding of the tools, early warning systems and case studies that show how coastal adaptation works in practice.
Week 7
Reflections and Future Directions
Bringing the BlueAdapt Journey Together
In this section, you’ll find a summary of the final week, including what to expect. You’ll see how the activities bring together the key themes explored throughout the course.
Looking Ahead: From Learning to Action
Explore how research, risks, impacts, adaptation tools and policy work together to strengthen coastal resilience.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explain how climate change affects coastal and marine environments and the implications for human health.
- Evaluate the links between environmental change, water quality, and health risks, including waterborne infections.
- Identify key tools and approaches used to assess, model, and value health impacts in coastal contexts.
- Apply One Health and adaptation frameworks to real-world coastal and health-related challenges.
- Evaluate adaptation interventions, early warning systems, and policy-relevant solutions using case studies from Europe.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for academics, researchers, students, and early-career professionals working in climate, health, environment, or coastal management seeking practical adaptation knowledge.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
University of Exeter
From research-led teaching to building carbon-neutral campuses, we’re striving for something bigger. The University of Exeter is a place for those who believe the world can do better, a world that is greener, healthier and fairer for all, and are ready to build it, together.
We bring together students and staff from around the world to share ideas, challenge thinking and make a positive difference.
BlueAdapt
BlueAdapt is a pan-European research project, investigating the impacts of climate change on risks to human health posed by pathogens and antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria in coastal waters.
Endorsers and supporters
supported by
funded by
What's included?
University of Exeter are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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