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This month’s round-up includes new reports and research, and several interesting free online events.
New review: Impact of heatwaves on people with neurological conditions
A new review paper, published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences, explores what is known about the impact of heatwaves on people living with neurological conditions.
Several studies have found associations between above average temperatures and admissions to hospital for people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease and dementia.
The review looks at the potential causes of this, some of which relate to the role of sleep and the glymphatic system in the brain.
New research: Working in social care in extreme heat
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published new qualitative research which explores the experience of people providing social care, both in people's homes and in care homes, during a heatwave. The findings will influence future policy and practice.
The research focuses on the record high temperatures in England in summer 2022. It looks at the context people were working in, what they did and the processes that were in place to support them. Experiences clearly varied depending on the buildings people were working in and how well adapted they were.
Carers focused on particular medical conditions and medications that impacted risk.
"Some residents I work with have dementia and can’t always say if they are too hot or dehydrated, I’ve got to keep an eye on people and it’s often a process of elimination to work out what was wrong. There’s a clear mental strain on the people I care for and they get more angry as well."
New research: Validating the MosquitoWise survey
Research recently reported in Nature's Scientific Reports journal explains the design and validation of a survey focused on perception of mosquito-borne viruses.
Mosquito-borne disease is an emerging public health threat in Europe and the success of protective measures against mosquito-borne viruses will depend on what the public knows and does. The MosquitoWise survey has been developed and validated for use across Europe.
New dataset: Combining health and environment in SHARE-ENV
The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) is a public database with information reported by 120,000 people on their current health and health history. A new database, SHARE-ENV adds to this with variables on environment and climate-related data, such as temperature, flood events and air pollution.
The new database has the potential to be a very useful source of information for researchers.
New policy paper: Reproductive justice and the climate emergency
The Women's Environmental Network (Wen) and Birth Companions have published a new policy paper looking at the climate emergency in the UK through the lens of reproductive justice.
It highlight key impacts on reproductive health such as air pollution, heat, food insecurity and exposure to harmful chemicals, as well as environmental disasters, migration, and narratives about population.
Dr Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), commented, “Using the important lens of reproductive justice, Birth Companions and Wen demonstrate the power in taking a holistic, justice-based view of the climate emergency. This is an approach which we don’t see often enough in conversation – and action – in response to these issues."
Comment: Public health’s role in tackling climate change
In an opinion article published in The MJ, a magazine for the local government sector, Greg Fell and Darrell Gale set out the health risks of climate change in the UK and why public health professionals have an important role to play. Greg is President of the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and Darrell is the Director of Public Health for East Sussex.
They set out the need for mitigation and adaptation, saying, "We must do all we can to achieve net zero. We know if we do not, we will see more extreme weather, tropical diseases will become commonplace and our ability to grow crops will be compromised. At the same time, we need to mitigate health impacts by thinking through the implications of our decisions and adapting our approach accordingly."
They highlight the unique position of directors of public health to bring together people from across sectors, including housing, planning and transport, and the knowledge they have of local communities.
“The health risks from climate change are considerable, but directors of public health are ideally placed to ensure initiatives are implemented in the right way, to the right people.”
Online report launch: Heat risk in the UK
A new report on the growing threat of heat risk in the UK will be launched later this month by the London School of Economics (LSE) Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. The report will cover impacts of heat on health, environment and infrastructure, and look at national policies and preparedness.
An online launch event is taking place on 28 February at 10am.
Online lecture: 28 years of COP – what does it mean for climate change and public health?
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is hosting an online lecture by Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. Dr Neira will talk on the COP process and what it means for climate and health action, followed by a panel discussion featuring senior public health professionals. The event will take place on 15 March, 10-11.30am.
As mentioned in last month’s round-up, FPH is also hosting a webinar on, ‘Climate change, public health and the right to health’ on 20 February (tomorrow), 2-4pm.
Panel discussion: Climate change, mental health and forced displacement
A panel of speakers will meet at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) for a discussion of the impact of climate-related events on the mental health of people who are forcibly displaced. The event is also being broadcast, so it can be viewed remotely.
The speakers are Dr Lynne Jones OBE and Emmanuela Osei-Asemani from LSHTM, Jura Augustinavicius from McGill University and Brandon Gray from the World Health Organization.
The discussion is taking place on 28 February, 4.30-6pm.
CSH network events: Occupational therapy and nutrition meetings
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) runs several networks for people working in different disciplines who want to connect around sustainability issues.
Coming up, on 21 February at 7pm, there is an online network event for the occupational therapy sustainability network. The speaker at this event is Natasha Holt-Davey, who set up a virtual stroke rehab service in Sussex.
On 27 February, at 12pm, there is an online network event for the food and nutrition sustainability network, with guest speaker Dr Clare Pettinger on food systems equality.
Consultations: Scotland’s plans for climate adaptation, and good food.
The Scottish government has opened two relevant consultations for public views.
The first is on the draft Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029. It will gather people's views on how climate change is impacting Scotland and how to improve green spaces and prepare businesses for the future. The consultation is open until 24 April.
The second consultation is on the draft Good Food Nation Plan, open for responses until 22 April. The plan’s outcomes includes access to food, sustainable food production and health.
Research funding: Climate impact awards
Wellcome has announced funding for research teams working to make the impacts of climate change on physical and mental health visible in order to deliver change.
The application deadline is 3 April.
Online course: Indigenous wisdom on planetary health
Guardians Worldwide is offering a six-week online course on climate change, healing and traditional medicine. Sessions are led by indigenous teachers from Brazil, Kenya and the Philippines. They include: transitioning beyond colonial health systems; solastalgia and dealing with environmental loss; and medicinal plants.
It is offered on a 'pay what you want' basis and starts on 1 March.
What else is catching my eye?
Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m eating tonight / what I’m going to see this week.