New report: Health effects of climate change in the UK
In December, the UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) published a significant report on the health effects of climate change in the UK. Over a series of chapters, it sets out the evidence and modelling for future impacts on key issues, including heat, flooding, vector-borne disease and air pollution. The health effects of climate change will worsen existing health inequalities.
Greg Fell, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and Director of Public Health for Sheffield, said, “UKHSA has laid out the facts and figures very clearly and while the report makes for very stark reading, there is also hope. It is not too late to act to prevent, or at least mitigate, some of the effects of climate change. However, we must work together across political parties and in partnership with business, communities, and the voluntary sector.”
New research: Supporting local public health to reduce heat impact
A team in the UK has published a review article which looks at heat-related health risk in England and Wales. It proposes ten indicators for monitoring exposure, outcomes and adaptation, designed to inform local decision-making.
New research: Air pollution and acute kidney injury
A study recently published in Environment International investigated the link between air pollution and acute kidney injury (AKI). It looked at data from six countries, including the UK, Canada, Japan, Portugal, South Korea and Taiwan.
The authors state that, "this study found a positive association between short-term exposure to air pollution [...] and AKI-related mortality [...] Our findings provide scientific evidence that environmental and public health policies to reduce air pollution may alleviate the burden of death from AKI."
New research: 50 years of data on temperature and pollen
Pollen and fungal spores trigger allergic symptoms and asthma for some people and rising temperatures have the potential to change pollen and spore patterns. This study used a dataset from central England (Derby and Leicester) that spans 52 years. It looked at the link between temperature and pollen/fungal spores at different time periods. The study authors conclude that the study, "suggests higher temperatures experienced in recent decades are associated with higher overall abundance of some pollen/fungal spores, which may increase future disease burdens of allergies."
Policy proposals: Nature and health
Organisations including the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UK HACC) and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) have written a joint letter to Steve Barclay MP, the current Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The letter calls for the development of further policies around nature and health. These include a targeted fund "for levelling up access to nature in the most nature-deprived areas", increasing access to nature by improving public sector land, and extending green social prescribing.
Comment: What does the public think of the net-zero NHS policy?
The Health Foundation has commissioned several polls to find out what the public thinks of the net-zero NHS policy. In a recent blogpost, it highlights their most recent polling which found that the public does not clearly see the link between the NHS and climate change, and that awareness and support for the goal of a net-zero NHS have fallen.
If you’re in London, you might be able to join an interesting-sounding workshop hosted by the Health Foundation. It involves a 30-minute ‘immersive scenario’ followed by discussion of the future of the NHS, exploring net-zero and other long-term issues. The event, on 1 February, is invite-only, but you can contact the events team to find out more.
Webinar: Climate change and the right to health
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and partners are hosting a webinar on, ‘Climate change, public health and the right to health’.
It will take place on 20 February 2024, 2-4pm.
CSH network events: SLT and critical care
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) runs several networks for specific disciplines to connect around sustainability issues.
On 31 January 2024 at 7.30pm, there is an online network event for the speech and language therapy (SLT) sustainability network.
On 8 February 2024, at 2pm, there is an online network event for the critical care sustainability network, on the theme of critical care sustainability fellowships.
Blog: Introducing the RCOG climate and health course
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recently launched a free three-part online course on climate and health. In this blogpost, one of the authors, Alice Clack, introduces the course, why it is needed, and how it will help health professionals to take action.
Online course: How to drive sustainable healthcare
University College London (UCL) has developed a new online course on sustainable healthcare. It uses the FutureLearn platform and will launch on 29 January 2024. The course content covers the environmental impacts of healthcare systems and what people working in healthcare settings can do to mitigate these. There is limited free access to the course (up to 19 February 2024) or access can be bought.
PhD opportunity: Sustainable diets and food production
A new Bloomsbury Colleges PhD Studentship is currently open for applications. A three-year funded project, based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), will focus on, 'The health and environmental co-benefits of linking sustainable diets with sustainable production systems in the UK'.
Apply by 17 March 2024.
Writing from the heart: Making kin with disability
In this personal post, Sophie Strand, writer of ‘Make me good soil’, imagines the ecosystem inside herself and highlights the ableism often ingrained in nature connection.
What else is catching my eye?
Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m eating tonight / what I’m planning to listen to.