eBulletin16th August 2024
This week the UK experienced the hottest day of the year with temperatures soaring to 35℃. Heat has become a catastrophic “silent killer” associated with over 50,000 deaths in Europe last year. Without urgent mitigation and adaptation measures, the devastating health consequences will worsen. We need each and every one of your support to demand appropriate and swift action by the government.
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News and updates
GMC publishes new statement on climate protests and doctors
The GMC has issued detailed guidance with case studies on how it responds to doctors who take action on particular issues and may be arrested, charged, convicted, and even imprisoned. The UKHACC response can be read here.
Letter to NICE from health organisations
UKHACC has joined with health organisations in a letter to the Chair and Chief Executive of NICE asking them to do more in helping the NHS reach its net zero targets. Read the letter here.
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Have your say
Write to your MP: Support Climate & Nature Bill at the private members’ bill ballot
The Zero Hour UK needs your support to ask your MP to prioritise the Climate & Nature Bill in the 5 September private members’ bill ballot. This is the chance to make the bill a reality. You can write to your MP here.
WHO Consultation with health community on the Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health
The 77th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to develop a “Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health”. This consultation call on 20 August will aim at ensuring that the voices of the health community are heard and integrated into the plan. Register here.
WHO Consultation with the health community on the COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health
The WHO is developing a COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health to deliver to the Azerbaijan Presidency. The health community is invited to attend this consultation call on 4 September and provide their inputs to the report which aims to propose a set of priority actions from the global health community to governments and policymakers, calling for urgent response to the current climate and health crises. Register here.
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Opportunities/Get involved
IPPC Authors Call: Special Report on Climate Change and Cities
IPCC calls for nominations of authors for the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities scheduled to be released in March 2027. IPCC author teams include a mix of authors from different regions. Author teams aim to reflect a range of scientific, technical and socio-economic views and backgrounds. The deadline is 20 September 2024. More information can be found here.
The Green Maternity Challenge
The Green Maternity Challenge organised by the Royal College of Obstretitians and Gynaecologists in collaboration with other organisations is looking for healthcare professionals in UK maternity care to get involved. The aim is to to promote environmentally sustainable practices in maternity care. Applications are open until Friday 20 September 2024. Find out more here.
Stop Rosebank open letter to the Prime Minister
Sign on to this open letter to the Prime Minister to ask him to Stop Rosebank. The objective of this letter is to ensure the new government is aware of the huge strength of feeling against Rosebank and to ask them to reject Rosebank if they get the chance, to support an end to new oil and gas projects, to deliver a fully-funded just transition plan, and to make real progress on renewables. The letter will be sent to the Prime Minister on 29th August.
NEON’s National Spokesperson Network training
Applications are open for the next round of NEON’s National Spokesperson Network training, which takes place over three days between 15 and 17 October 2024. The Spokesperson Network trains and supports people from civil society working on social, environmental and economic issues to speak on television and radio. The deadline to apply is 8 am on Tuesday 10 September. More information and details on how to apply can be found here.
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Events
4 September | Online
Stop Rosebank – What Next?
The new UK Government is committed to ending oil & gas licensing, but what does this mean for oil fields like Rosebank that are already approved? Join this workshop to get to grips with the new political context, the latest insights into the campaign and to discuss how we continue applying pressure for Rosebank and new oil & gas fields to be rejected.
9 September & 9 November | London & Online
Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Conference
Plant-Based Health Professionals UK is holding two one-day nutrition and lifestyle medicine conferences this year. Whether you’re a health professional, policy maker, or simply passionate about optimising your health through better eating patterns and habits, there’s something for everyone. Sessions cover hot topics such as gut health, physical activity, healthy ageing, mental health and behaviour change. More information is available here.
19 September | Online
Fuel For Thought, from fuel poverty to climate justice
Fuel For Thought, organised by Fuel Poverty Action, is a series of monthly sessions for collective learning to tackle lies: a space to share research and lived experience, clear up confusion, and answer questions. Vested interests have shaped false narratives, spread misinformation and manipulated facts, perpetuating energy injustices and climate breakdown for decades. Further details are available here.
21-22 September | London
Fifth Mayday C4 Events
Royal Society of Arts on Saturday 21 Sep with an evening jazz concert by Tim Garland and Alice Zawodska. Royal Society of Medicine on Sunday 22 Sep, with an evening concert by the Brook Street Band. This conference is designed to remove the roadblocks to progress by brainstorming 12 key issues affecting climate progress in a series of working groups at the RSA on Saturday (Morning session is by invitation only); with formal presentations and discussions on Sept 22. The conference proceedings will be published, and will be presented to the Commonwealth at CHOGM, Samoa, in October. Telephone or text 07460 730510 to book.
7 October | London
Cause and effect: how can climate change and its health impacts be addressed together?
Jointly organised by the Green Alliance and the Wellcome Trust, this event will showcase visionary policy ideas to make the UK a healthier, greener and more resilient place to live. The panel discussion will also focus on climate adaptation as a means to address physical and mental health problems and aid policy makers in building stronger, more equitable climate policies. More information and registration details are here.
12 October | UK Wide
Meet Your MP to show you care about climate and nature
The Climate Coalition are inviting thousands of people across the UK to meet with their MP in their constituencies to show that they want to see action to tackle climate change and protect and restore nature. They are also organising two workshops to help people get involved and feel prepared and excited to talk to their MP. Further information is available here.
17 October | London & Online
International Health Lecture 2024: Climate crisis, cities and health
The Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet are co-organising this year’s International Health Lecture on the theme of “Climate crisis, cities and health”. The lecture will be delivered by Professor Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen, a world-leading environmental, epidemiology and health impact expert from ISGlobal, and will be followed by a panel discussion with Dr Maria Neira, Dr Marina Romanello and Professor Niheer Dasandi. You can register to attend online or in person.
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New resources
Green Physicians Toolkit by the RCP
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published a Green physician toolkit that brings together the evidence on health and climate change, and suggests actions that physicians can take in their day-to-day practice. Download the toolkit here.
Case Study: ATACH First Wins Technical Case Study from RCGP
The Green Impact for Health Toolkit to engage primary care workers in low-carbon sustainable care has been published as a “First Wins” case study on the ATACH website. Access the case study here.
Report: The New Merchants of Doubt – How Big Meat and Dairy Avoid Climate Action
A new report by the Changing Markets Foundation reveals the tactics of Big Meat and Dairy companies to delay, distract, and derail action on transforming the food system, mirroring strategies used by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. Read the report here.
Report: Public Attitudes Survey 2024
In this report, the findings of the Eating Better Alliance’s public attitudes survey show that 61% of people are willing to cut down their meat consumption, with animal welfare, carbon emissions, and money listed as the top three reasons why. It offers insights and analysis on attitudes towards reducing meat consumption, the barriers that stand in the way, and the actions which will enable change.
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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.
- Read how the British Thoracic Society developed its position on the environment, climate change and sustainability.
- This new article highlights the importance of nature-based solutions for climate and health action.
- This new study reports that rising temperatures killed 50,000 people in Europe last year.
- This CarbonBrief Analysis shows that the UK could approve 13 new oil and gas projects despite the North Sea pledge.
- Read the news report on how ULEZ expansion helped reduce air pollution in London.
- Read about this Ride For Their Lives campaign where local GPs said the Dundee LEZ is a step forward, but more needs to be done to tackle air pollution.
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Please share
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If you’ve got information about resources, campaigns, or events you would like to be included in the next edition, please send them to anandita.pattnaik@ukhealthalliance.org. The next bulletin will be published on 13 September 2024