4th September 2024
The report – A just energy transition for the good of health – was produced in partnership with the Faculty of Public Health, Planetary Health Report Card, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
The report outlines the devastating health consequences of the UK’s current dependency on fossil fuels, which are the main driver of climate change and air pollution, and are destructive to the natural environment on which all life depends.
It puts forward seven recommendations for the governments of the UK to deliver a cleaner energy system and a better, fairer and healthier society:
- End UK dependency on oil and gas
- Revise and strengthen the 2050 net zero strategy
- Invest in people to meet the demand for green jobs
- Improve infrastructure and access for active travel and clean transport
- Enable a low-carbon, climate-resilient health service
- Demonstrate leadership by delivering domestically and meeting international obligations
It says the UK is now on the cusp of a transformational change to release ourselves from the current dependency on fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – to one powered by natural energy – wind, wave, and solar. The next five years are critical in phasing out fossil fuels while accelerating progress on renewable energy, building the infrastructure to support fossil-free homes and environments, upskilling the workforce, and demonstrating leadership on a global scale.
Elaine Mulcahy, Director of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, said: “The new government must lead the way in transforming our energy system and the way in which we use energy, which will be a defining legacy of this generation. We must all do all we can to ensure this is a positive legacy that results in a healthier, cleaner and fairer society.”
Richard Smith, Chair of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, said: “This report makes only six recommendations, the main one being to end UK dependency on oil and gas, and if the recommendations are implemented we will in the UK see improved health, more jobs (themselves good for health), and reduced harm to the planet. The UK was once a leader in climate change and the ecological crisis, but it has lost that position. If the government follows our recommendations it will regain that leadership and improve the health of the UK population.”
Dr Mark Harber, special adviser on healthcare sustainability and climate change at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “We strongly support UKHACC’s call for a just energy transition. Climate change poses the greatest threat to population health, requiring immediate and robust action. The report rightly emphasises the need to end fossil fuel dependency and invest in green jobs. We urge the government to act decisively to ensure a sustainable and healthy future for all.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, President of the Faculty of Public Health, said: “This excellent report makes clear the urgency of strengthening the UK’s Net Zero plans and in particular ending our dependency on fossil fuels and ensuring a fast and just transition to clean energy sources. In the face of major threats from climate change and pollution, such action is essential for the protection of public health. Many of the measures needed – from low-carbon energy, to home insulation, to active and public transport – will also have wider benefits for the health of the public and are highly cost-effective. We strongly support this report, and call on the Government to step up its climate change and Net Zero leadership by implementing its recommendations.”
Dr Helena Clements, Officer for Climate Change at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “We strongly support the recommendations in this report. Children are among the most vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, which is driven by our dependence on fossil fuels. The use of fossil fuels accelerates global warming, leading to extreme weather events, the spread of infectious diseases, and toxic air pollution that can damage children’s lungs and brains, as well as affect unborn babies. By ending our reliance on oil and gas and transitioning to clean, renewable energy, we can significantly reduce the rates of health issues that disproportionately affect our youngest generation, paving the way for a safer and healthier future.”