Heidelberg University Courses

Climate Change & Health for Policy-Makers

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This MOOC was developed by four eminent scientists who together authored the health chapter in the recent 5th Assessment report of the IPCC. They offer you a short crash-course into the topic of climate change, tailored to senior policy-makers and negotiators of climate agreements, particularly as an input into the climate conference COP21 in Paris in December this year.This 1 week MOOC requires 3 hours of investment time and provides hard evidence for four key arguments as to why health is and should be central in climate policy.Two positive arguments:1. Health is a positive motivator, a driving force for citizens and policy-makers to care about and act on climate change.2. The huge health co-benefits must enter the risk-benefit calculations.However, two arguments pertain to the restrictions that our health and physiology impose on humans under climate change, particularly in a world that is +4°C warmer:1. There are health limits to adaptation.2. Decreased work productivity in hot countries.Finally, we should consider health as an indicator, not only for sustainable development, but also for climate policy.

Climate Change and Health

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Climate change is currently at the center of the world’s attention, with delegations from more than 190 countries meeting in Paris for the COP21 to negotiate an agreement how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming under 2°C.There are not many world citizens who do not have their children’s and their own health as a top priority. So why is health not more prominent topic in the debate on climate change and its impacts? We hear a lot about polar bears and smokestacks in the media, but very little on the many and the large health impacts of climate change. With this MOOC, we want to provide state-of-the art evidence of the link between climate change and the health of populations.

AIR: Accelerating Investment Readiness

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The Corona Virus and other grand challenges of our times have shown us how much we need organizations that create social and ecological value and an ecosystem in which they can thrive. #AirMOOC promotes mutual learning between (aspiring) founders of social ventures, accelerators, impact investors and relevant national and regional policy makers. The aim is to support impactful entrepreneurs, or intrapreneurs within existing organizations spanning the for-profit, non-profit and policy spectrums.We have gathered leading experts in impact investing, purpose driven business and progressive policy making to provide inputs for reflection, share their experiences and co-create more sustainable and pro-social organizations. The experts involved come from an impressive range of high-profile organizations and institutions,including:SEIF Driving Impact Innovation, TEDx, Social Entrepreneurship Network Germany (SEND), the German Ministry of Economy in Baden-Württemberg, ResponsAbility Investments, Impact Collective Social Venture Accelerators, Enactus, PHINEO, European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), Cambridge Social Ventures, Impact Hub, OECD, and Erste Bank.#AirMOOC offers six modules focusing on topics at the intersection of social entrepreneurship and impact investing with a specific focus on joining these two fields for positive social change:Impact, Strategy, Finance, Governance, Scaling and Communication.We employ a variety of case studies, creative exercises and interactive webinars to help students develop their impact and investment readiness skills. This course enhances responsible leadership formation. It will help those interested in creating value for and with society excel in their endeavors.