The climate and ecological crises are both driven by human activities. They each have catastrophic implications for human health and their strong interconnection creates a vicious circle where each is reinforced by the other. A stable natural environment is critical for limiting global warming and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conversely, the loss of biodiversity is a major threat to human, animal, and environmental health. In order to mitigate harm and maximise the co-benefits of action, it is important that policies tackle both climate change and biodiversity loss together. Our policy report, describes the impacts of biodiversity loss on land and oceans for human health and puts forward recommendations to reduce biodiversity loss, restore nature, and achieve climate goals for the benefit of health.
Biodiversity, climate change and health
Recommendations
1. Protect, restore and regenerate nature and biodiversity in urban landscapes.
Recommendation 1
Protect, restore and regenerate nature and biodiversity in urban landscapes. The aim is to reach the ratified 30% biodiversity target by 2030. This can be achieved through multi-level, cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration to collectively design and deliver high-quality green and blue spaces in urban areas and NHS sites such that it enables physical and mental health and well-being and green social prescribing. These spaces should be designated as key health infrastructure that would improve population health.
2. Prioritise and promote plant-based and sustainably sourced food, limit waste and build resilience against food insecurity.
Recommendation 2
Prioritise and promote plant-based and sustainably sourced food, limit waste and build resilience against food insecurity. This can be achieved through a transition to sustainable diets by committing to prioritising plant-based and sustainable food while reducing meat and dairy consumption and food wastage. A parallel shift to refocus subsidies on sustainable agricultural production is needed.
3. Ensure delivery of the International Financial Commitments to support nature and biodiversity with regular monitoring and evaluation to demonstrate effectiveness.
Recommendation 3
Ensure delivery of the International Financial Commitments to
support nature and biodiversity with regular monitoring and
evaluation to demonstrate effectiveness. The UK government must deliver on the promises made internationally to protect and restore nature. There should be a simultaneous development of innovative ways to increase financial investments to support climate and ecological action, particularly through the private sector.
4. End all subsidies, investments and new exploration for fossil fuels, while ensuring a just transition to renewable energy.
Recommendation 4
End all subsidies, investments and new exploration for fossil fuels, while ensuring a just transition to renewable energy.48 There must be no new offshore drilling for oil along with urgent phasing out of offshore oil rigs. There needs to be a simultaneous effort to switch to cleaner fuels. This could be achieved through a combination of wind, solar, hydroelectric and other renewable sources of energy.
5. Reduce plastic waste by banning the production and sale of unnecessary plastic items with simultaneous efforts to incentivise reusing, recycling, and the production and utilisation of alternate compostable materials.
Recommendation 5
Reduce plastic waste by banning the production and sale of unnecessary plastic items with simultaneous efforts to incentivise reusing, recycling, and the production and utilisation of alternate compostable materials. This can be achieved through a market transformation towards a circular economy and adoption of necessary policy and regulatory frameworks.
6. Increase knowledge and understanding of human and ecological risks caused by the presence of pharmaceutical products in water bodies.
Recommendation 6
Increase knowledge and understanding of human and ecological risks caused by the presence of pharmaceutical products in water bodies. This requires a whole systems approach with investment in research to measure the ecological footprint of medicines that enables prescribers and patients to make environmentally informed choices. This generated data will help reduce harmful impacts by preventing the release of pharmaceuticals in water bodies through proper regulation and governance.
7. Strengthen international financial flows and capacity-building with inclusive decision- making to support and implement innovative multidisciplinary solutions to save marine ecosystems.
Recommendation 7
Strengthen international financial flows and capacity-building with inclusive decision-making to support and implement innovative multidisciplinary solutions to save marine ecosystems. This can be done through targeted reduction of different kinds of pollution, overconsumption and waste, and by providing positive incentives to local communities to protect, conserve and restore marine ecosystems. Identification and scaling up of successful local innovations should be done wherever appropriate.
Part I: Terrestrial ecosystems 1
Green and blue spaces in urban environments
Food systems and land use
Global responsibility
Part II: Marine ecosystems
Oil fields and marine life
Pollution caused by human activities
Global responsibility
What are key health and environment professionals saying about the report?
Food system transformation is essential for restoring nature and preventing further climate breakdown. Shifting towards plant-based diets also provides co-benefits for improving human health, addressing antibiotic resistance, reducing pandemic risk and being kinder and more compassionate towards our fellow non-human animals. There are no downsides to adopting a plant-based diet and it’s a hugely impactful action many of us can undertake immediately.
Dr Shireen Kassam, Consultant Haematologist at King’s College Hospital, London and Founder of Plant Based Health Professionals UK
Our health depends on thriving nature and oceans. And yet the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Acting on the climate, pollution, and nature emergencies together – by addressing our impacts and dependencies, prioritising nature and ocean recovery, and reducing the unequal access to the benefits of nature in our communities is key to our health and the health of future generations.
Dr Georgie Sowman, GP in Northeast England, Greener Practice, and Co-founder of Healthcare Ocean
As President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons I welcome this timely report. Veterinary professionals are used to thinking about One Health – the synergies between animal health and human health. Nowhere is this clearer than in the links between the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Both pose existential risks to animal and human health and welfare, and a coordinated approach is essential to addressing them. Veterinary surgeons are uniquely placed to work with farmers on questions of sustainability, including the need for ‘less and better’ consumption of animal products, thereby benefiting biodiversity, animal welfare, and human health
Dr Sue Paterson, President of Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
By harming our natural ecosystem, we’re also harming our health. Those in power must recognise the reality of the warnings made in this report and take urgent and firm action to protect nature. Medicines are a crucial intervention in healthcare, we recognise the environmental impact of pharmaceutical products on the environment and our waters. We are committed to working with our colleagues for increased awareness and action in this area and all those highlighted to safeguard both human and ecological health. If action is not taken we are sure to be facing increases in non-communicable diseases, reduced capacity to develop new medicines and antimicrobial resistance. Together, with a united effort, we can contribute to the preservation of our natural world and the wellbeing of future generations.
Professor Claire Anderson, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
We are facing two inextricably linked crises; the climate emergency and the ongoing loss of natural habitat and biodiversity. To compound matters, a lack of access to nature, dirty air, polluted water and the impact of a warming climate are widening health inequalities. Those who are in most need of the health and well-being benefits of nature are least likely to have access from their doorsteps. The most under-served areas of the country are nine times less likely to have safe and accessible green and blue places. This is an incredibly important report from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. The loss of wildlife and habitats leaves us ill-equipped to reduce our emissions and adapt to change. The Wildlife Trusts strongly support actions and policies to tackle the climate crisis and reverse nature’s decline.
Dom Higgins, Head of Health and Education at The Wildlife Trusts
The climate emergency and biodiversity crisis are two unparalleled challenges that are intricately linked and impact in multiple ways on human health whilst also increasing health inequalities. UKHACC’s report is welcome and timely and we call on governments to respond in the most proactive way possible by taking additional and decisive actions to preserve and enhance ecosystems.
Professor Andrew Elder, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
We welcome this report and its clear acknowledgement of the impact that the environment, including blue and green spaces, has on mental and physical health. The adoption of its recommendations is essential in creating sustainable mental health care that is nature-friendly, which will have a significant impact on people’s lives. Knowing the importance of nature for wellbeing, our members have been working tirelessly to sound the alarm and move towards a sustainable model of healthcare. The clear connection between climate change and ecological decline means that biodiversity loss and pollution disproportionately impact the health of vulnerable people. This is especially true for people with mental illness, exacerbating existing inequalities. Within this report, there is a critical message: to restore, protect, and ultimately celebrate the incredible ecosystems that humanity depends on. It is clear that climate change and the decline in nature pose a threat to the long-term health of the nation, and with focused, collective action over the next decade, we can protect the healthcare system.
Jacob Krzanowski, Sustainability Lead at the Royal College of Psychiatrists
This is such an important report from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. The harm and potential loss of these vital ecosystems will have an impact on our population and our professions. The College of Paramedics has recognised the importance of nature as just one aspect of healing the paramedic profession by taking our members back to nature through schemes designed to support their mental health and wellbeing. For our patients, they may face health inequalities that relate directly to their ability to access these precious resources from nature and to live a healthier life. We stand firmly with the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and urge positive action to make a difference for a healthier future.
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics
This is an important and timely report that highlights the need to reaffirm and strengthen government commitments to protect our environment and encourage biodiversity. Our health and well-being are directly affected by the environment in which we live, with communities already facing disadvantages particularly vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation. Protecting the natural environment is key to improving health and we support the actions set out in this report.
Prof. Paul Johnstone, Chair of the Faculty of Public Health’s Climate and Health Committee
The RCN supports the development of this report because nursing staff recognise that the health of the planet is connected to everyone’s physical and mental health. Now is the time for healthcare professionals to work together to make sure we protect and invest in nature for the benefit of the nation’s health
Rose Gallagher, Nursing Sustainability Lead at the Royal College of Nursing