15th August 2025
As we write, Europe is experiencing extreme temperatures and wildfires have spread across vast areas of land with more prolonged hot weather expected over the coming days. Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece have all reported temperatures exceeding 40C. The World Meteorological Society has warned that wildfires and poor air quality are compounding the negative health effects of extreme heat. Across Southern Europe, lives have been lost, homes and businesses have been destroyed. The Guardian reports that a four year old boy died of heatstroke in Italy. The true extent of the health implications and deaths will be significant. This is climate change, and without urgent and rapid action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that drive global heating combined with adaptation measures to protect people from the now-unstoppable heat, more lives and livelihoods will be lost. The health community is an important voice in calling for action to protect health.
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News and updates
ICJ rules countries have an obligation to prevent climate harm
A landmark decision by the International Court of Justice has concluded that a ‘clean, healthy and sustainable environment’ is a human right and that failing to protect the planet from the impacts of climate change may be a violation of international law. The ruling has been celebrated by many climate-impacted nations who have been calling for high emitting nations to be called to account and is an incredible victory for the group of young law students from low-lying Pacific islands on the frontlines of climate change who initiated the case. Read the BBC report here.
COP30 programme launched
The presidency of the COP30 has unveiled the official thematic days calendar for the upcoming UN climate change conference, to be held in Belém, Pará from 10-21 November 2025. The program spans more than 30 interconnected themes, including health, adaptation, food systems, energy, and planetary and community stewardship.
Open letter to PM calls for a bold and fair climate plan
One hundred days before the government is legally obliged to publish an updated climate change plan, multiple organisations have written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a bold and fair plan that helps to deliver cheap, reliable energy, security and resilience, warm homes, clean air, widespread public transport, thriving nature, health workplaces, and well-paid green jobs. The letter was coordinated by Friends of the Earth and has been followed by a petition that you may want to add your name to.
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Have your say
Tell your MP we need a stronger climate action plan
After legal wins in favour of Client Earth and Friends of the Earth, the UK government’s climate plan has been ruled unlawful twice for failing to meet targets and relying on unproven carbon capture technology. With a new plan due in October, many are calling for stronger action that cuts emissions, lowers bills, and creates jobs, rather than more funding for fossil fuels. Email your MP for urgent climate action.
The 89% project: why climate action matters to you
A study commissioned by The Guardian of 130,000 people in 125 countries, found that 80 to 89% of people around the world want more done about the climate crisis – but mistakenly assume their peers do not. The Guardian is asking why climate action matters to you and who has inspired you to take action. Share your thoughts here.
Break the fossil influence
A number of health organisations around the world have made a stand against fossil fuel disinformation by signing the Fossil Free Health Communications Commitment. The campaign, which calls on the health community to cut ties with PR and ad agencies that work with fossil fuel clients, is gaining global attention with recent coverage in PR Week and Health Policy Watch spotlighting the health sector’s leadership in challenging fossil fuel spin. Sign the Fossil-Free Health Communications Commitment
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Opportunities/Get involved
Act Now, Change Forever Lobby Week
From 13-20 September, people across the UK will arrange to meet their MPs locally and call for a healthier, fairer, safer future. In Wales there will be a Senedd lobby on 17 September, and in Scotland there will be a Holyrood lobby on 18 September. All over the UK, this will be an opportunity for people to speak to their MPs and call for urgent climate action. Email your MP to arrange a meeting HERE. Find out about the Scotland lobby here and the Welsh lobby here.
Get plant-based foods into your hospital’s green plan
NHS England’s recently updated Green Plan guidance encourages hospitals to refresh policies, creating an ideal opportunity to increase plant-based options. There are lots of resources available to support low-carbon catering plans, information about plant-based food for patients and staff, and setting targets and deadlines. The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change report – Plant Powered Planet and Plant Based Health Professionals UK’s Food In Healthcare Report are good places to start.
Access funding for tree planting in healthcare sites
NHS Forest are offering fully funded trees to healthcare sites in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as England. Order your fully funded trees here
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Events and Courses
Environmental sustainability in health technology assessments: redefining value in healthcare
09:00, 21 August 2025 | London/Online
At this critical moment, how can healthcare technology assessments prioritise and value sustainability? Register here for an engaging discussion with Sarin K.C. of Thailand’s Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP).
Project Boost Webinar
11:00-12:00, 4 September 2025 | Online
This session is designed to show you how to work effectively with the small teams of staff behind every MP – the people responsible for managing communications, briefing MPs ahead of debates, managing their engagements, and more. You’ll come away with practical tips and approaches for becoming a trusted contact. Whether you’re seeking a meeting, a parliamentary question, or long-term engagement, understanding how to navigate MP offices is a key step to improving your advocacy. Book here.
Wild Summit
09:00, 11 September 2025 | Bristol Beacon
Join over 1,000 nature lovers, campaigners, and organisations at the Wild Summit. This will feature talks, panels, and hands-on workshops tackling urgent environmental issues—from freshwater protection to planning reform. Speakers include Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Ruth Davis, Martin Lines, Beccy Speight, and Hilary McGrady. Topics to be discussed include: How the UK can halt nature’s decline by 2030 and how collaboration between government, businesses, and the public is key. Find out more here.
Britain Talks Climate webinar
11.00-12.00, 11 September 2025
What do British people think and feel about climate change and nature in 2025? And how can we involve and engage everyone when we talk about it? Climate Outreach and More in Common have carried out new research exploring people’s feelings and sentiments about climate change and nature. Join them to hear their insights.
Creative integrity: How leading brands are rethinking agency partnerships
4:00-5:00pm, 17 September 2025 | Online
In July, over 200 creative leaders backed a UK parliamentary debate calling for a fossil fuel ad ban, signalling growing momentum for ethical reform across the industry. Now, forward-thinking brands are joining the shift: leveraging their purchasing power to partner exclusively with agencies that match their values on climate, integrity and equity. This webinar is designed for the health community, brand leaders, and marketing teams who are ready to future-proof their agency relationships. Find out more here.
Course: Yale Online Climate Change and Health Certificate Program for Working Professionals
The Yale Center on Climate Change and Health is currently accepting applications for this 21-week online course. Launched in 2018 as the first-ever online certificate on climate change and health from an accredited US school of public health, the program is designed to equip working professionals with the knowledge and strategies to increase their community’s resilience to the adverse health impacts of climate change and to communicate effectively on these issues to the public and policymakers. Find out more.
Global COACH Fellowship
This course is hosted by the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, co-sponsored by the Global Climate and Health Alliance, Stanley Center for Peace and Security, Health Care Without Harm, and CHA Center for Health Equity Education & Advocacy, and supported by Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece. This fellowship is designed to empower health professionals and their community partners to lead climate-health solutions by building skills in community organizing, strategic storytelling, and health equity leadership. Applicants should apply as a group of three individuals already working together on a climate-health initiative. Apply here.
CPDMatch: Climate change education for the healthcare industry
CPDmatch is a not-for-profit website for healthcare professionals, employing organisations and supplier industries to find the educational resources required to deliver net zero sustainable healthcare and become confident in communicating and inspiring others to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. More information is available here
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New resources
SAFER Report
SAFER is a campaign for climate adaptation: the work of looking ahead, getting ready, and taking care of each other as our world changes. The SAFER report equips campaigners and policymakers with the tools to make the case for adaptation as a vital pillar of integrated climate approaches. Watch the launch video with Caroline Lucas here.
Integrating mental health into climate change adaptation policies
Commissioned by United for Global Mental Health in collaboration with the Climate Cares Centre at Imperial College London, this report aims to better understand the extent to which mental health has been integrated into national adaptation policies.
Imagining a net zero NHS of the future
The Health Foundation recently-published an interactive hypothetical scenario to encourage thinking and discussion about the possible future of our health system. The imagined future for the NHS is set in 2036, designed to highlight a range of questions for us all to think about today.
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Articles, podcasts and videos
We’ve pulled together a list of recent articles, podcasts and videos worth reading, watching, listening and sharing.
- The RealZero Podcast, with Professor Hugh Montgomery and Dr Daniel Grant, explores the science, impacts and innovative solutions to help us navigate the climate crisis from practical steps individuals can take to bold societal shifts.
- This commentary discusses the strengths of the Planetary Health framework and the Planetary Boundaries framework, and calls for bold, integrated approaches to the growing health crisis driven by planetary destabilisation.
- The Global Health and Climate Alliance has responded to Shell’s PR Company Edelman winning a contract to provide Cop30 media services. Dr Jeni Miller, executive director, said that it’s ‘a serious conflict of interest’.
- Nature Within: How the Natural World Shapes Our Minds, Bodies & Health. This new book is ‘A compelling new argument for reconnecting with Nature and protecting biodiversity as a public health intervention.’ Preorder HERE
- Paediatrician Lucy Reynolds writes about how planting trees has taught her about community and climate action.
- Petra Todd, Environmental science student and UKHACC intern Petra Todd writes her reflections of the Global Health and Climate Summit
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