March 2024 climate and health round-up
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Here’s what caught my eye this month.
New review and events: Climate change and mental health
A scoping review published this month explores psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health impacts of climate change.
It includes interesting and varied examples from different countries, including a study in Nigeria using rational emotive behaviour therapy with people affecting by flooding; a resilience-building programme in the Philippines implemented after Typhoon Haiyan; the Drought Mental Health Assistance Package in Australia; and the Carbon Conversations initiative in the UK.
A recent event at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) included a panel discussion of the impact of climate-related events on the mental health of people who are forcibly displaced.
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is hosting a webinar on 10 April on climate change and mental health, and public health approaches to safeguarding mental health.
Last but not least, Connecting Climate Minds is a global event connecting climate and mental health researchers taking place this week, 19-21 March.
New research: Hot weather and acute kidney injury
New research, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, mapped data on episodes of acute kidney injury (AKI) from the UK Renal Registry against postcode-level data on daily maximum temperatures in England. The weather data covered the months between April and September, in 2017-2021.
The study found a higher risk of episodes of AKI associated with high temperatures, with the strongest effect lagging by one day. A heatwave in July 2021 which lasted for seven days was linked to a 28.6% increase in AKI.
New review: Interventions to reduce emissions in health systems
A systematic review published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization this month looked for evidence on interventions reducing greenhouse gas emissions in health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
The review found research on different types of emissions including those relating to heating and cooling, anaesthetic gases, energy and waste. As well as finding successes, the review identified multiple gaps in evidence. The research team calls for better monitoring, evaluation and reporting of interventions.
New report: Turning up the heat
The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Place-Based Climate Action Network has published a new report, Turning up the heat: Learning from the summer 2022 heatwaves in England to inform UK policy on extreme heat.
The researchers gathered insights from focus groups and interviews with decision makers and practitioners at the frontline of the heatwave response, such as local authorities, government departments, London Fire Brigade, ambulance services, communities and utilities providers.
They found that efforts to prepare for extreme heat, “did not match the scale of the issue, with reports of stakeholders being taken by surprise, slow decision-making and avoidable impacts”.
The authors call for a national strategy for heat risk preparedness to prioritise the reduction of threats to human health, the environment and the economy.
New data: Excess deaths associated with heatwaves
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its annual report on heat mortality for 2022. The summer of 2022 saw the highest recorded temperature in England at 40.3°C and the highest number of days on which a heat-health alert was issued.
Across five heat episodes in 2022, UKHSA estimates there were almost 3000 associated excess deaths.
Online launch: Toolkit on communicating about climate change and health
The World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting an event to launch a new toolkit for health professionals on communicating about climate change and health. WHO says the toolkit should help with building confidence in communication and engaging effectively with stakeholders, with the aim of driving collective action.
The online launch event is taking place on 22 March.
International event: Planetary Health Summit 2024
The Planetary Health Summit 2024 and 6th Annual Meeting (PHAM2024) is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and online, 15-19 April. This year’s theme is 'From evidence to action: confronting reality'.
Events: Greener AHP Week
The Allied Health Professions (AHP) Sustainability Network is hosting a week of events from 22 to 26 April. Greener AHP Week aims to raise awareness of the links between health and climate change, and share information on projects to inspire AHPs to get involved.
They are hosting around 30 virtual meetings on all sorts of interesting topics.
CSH events: Liver disease
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) runs several networks for people working in different disciplines who want to connect around sustainability issues.
CSH has been commissioned by the British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) to host a series of webinars on sustainable healthcare in liver disease services. The first webinar is on 26 March.
Online course: Air pollution and health
WHO has launched a free online course on air pollution and health for health workers. It covers the health impacts of air pollution and the role health workers can play in communicating about air pollution with people in their care.
A recent white paper from the European research project EXHAUSTION explored the impact of heat on air pollution risk.
Opportunity: England's Clinical Fellow Scheme
The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) is now accepting applications for the Chief Sustainability Officer's Clinical Fellow Scheme. The scheme offers clinicians in England the opportunity to develop leadership skills related to achieving a net-zero NHS. Successful applicants are seconded to the scheme for one year.
Apply by 27 March.
What else is catching my eye?
Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m watching (joyful science communication) / what I’m putting in tonight’s dinner.