3rd November 2026
Leading health and environmental experts are calling for urgent action to protect people’s health from climate change and nature loss, as a new guide for parliamentarians launches today in the House of Lords.
The Parliamentarians’ Guide to Health and Climate Change brings together leading experts and the latest evidence to explain why climate change and environmental decline are among the greatest threats to health in the 21st century – and what parliamentarians and policymakers can do to respond.
Following a summer of record-breaking heat, wildfires and drought putting health and essential services under growing pressure, the guide highlights the need to act now to address the climate impacts already occurring and prepare for the greater risks ahead.
It sets out ten priorities for action on climate and health in the UK, showing how policymakers can reduce health risks while delivering wider benefits for society and the economy. These include putting health at the heart of climate policy; preparing the NHS for climate impacts; creating healthier, climate-resilient places; tackling air pollution; protecting those most vulnerable to climate risks; and strengthening the resilience of the UK’s food system.
The guide also highlights the vital role of nature in protecting health – from expanding urban tree cover and access to green space to using nature-based solutions to reduce the risks of heat and flooding.
Developed by Peers for the Planet with the support of Wellcome, the guide aims to build cross-party understanding and drive action to protect public health, strengthen the economy and help communities become more resilient to the changes already under way.