The Psychological Counseling and Educational Guidance Unit at the College of Education organized a workshop entitled "Climate Change and Its Impact on Public Health" on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Hall 505 of the Humanities Building. The event was attended by faculty and staff from various departments including Educational and Psychological Sciences, English Language, and Quranic Sciences.

The workshop was delivered by Prof. Dr. Thanaa Bahaa Al-Din Abdullah, a specialist in psychological counseling and therapy and head of the Counseling and Guidance Unit at the college. Dr. Abdullah highlighted the serious health threats posed by climate change, referring to it as "the silent killer of public health" and emphasizing that it is not merely an environmental issue but a global health crisis affecting human well-being through multiple mechanisms.

The session addressed both direct and indirect health effects of climate change, such as heatwaves, increased incidents of heatstroke and dehydration, worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, as well as sudden natural disasters like hurricanes and floods that can lead to the spread of infectious diseases.

The workshop also discussed indirect impacts such as air pollution, food and water shortages due to drought, and the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which are now reaching regions that were previously unaffected.

Dr. Abdullah pointed out that the most vulnerable groups include the elderly, children, low-income populations, and residents of coastal areas.

Proposed solutions included adaptation strategies such as early warning systems for heatwaves and improving infrastructure, as well as mitigation strategies like reducing carbon emissions, afforestation, and improving air quality.

In conclusion, the speaker affirmed that "a sick climate equals a sick human being," urging collective action to protect both public health and the planet under the slogan: "Protecting the climate means protecting our health."

This workshop was part of the college’s commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Climate Action, and was supported by reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Al-Mustaqbal University, first University in Iraq.