A number of important issues can be identified as significant for ongoing global environmental change.
Each has the potential for health practitioners to think globally and act locally in an effort to protect
the health of the environment and the population.
You are required to nominate one issue for particular attention in your report. These issues could
include, but are not limited to, the following:
 Climate change
 Soil quality
 Water quality
 Air quality
 Food
 Industrial and technological development
 Population increase
 Biodiversity
Part A: Thinking globally
Provide an overview of the global environmental health issues relating to the topic you have identified.
It will be necessary to consider the causes and interaction of other areas of global concern, but should
focus primarily on one area.
Discuss the actual or potential long and short term impacts for the world, of ongoing change in the
area.
Part B: Thinking and acting locally
1) Identify actual or potential health risks to members of the community locally associated with the
issue discussed in part A. These will be local public health issues which also have relevance for people
everywhere.
2) Having identified the issue/problem or risk to health that already exists or may arise, make
recommendations for action for your identified local community, using the Ottawa Charter for Health
Promotion (WHO, 1986).