16th January 2026
Wishing all of our followers and supporters good wishes for the year ahead.
As we were working on this first monthly bulletin for the year, news came in that 2025 was the third warmest year on record. 2023 (1.48C), 2024 (1.6C), and 2025 (1.47C) are the three hottest years since records began and the current level of long-term global heating is estimated to be around 1.4C, edging ever closer to the Paris Agreement 1.5C limit. Across the World people are experiencing the consequences, and progress continues to be far too slow. But there is hope, and in many ways the shift is happening despite some of the politics. People are seeking ways to live more sustainably, organisations are putting systems in place to reduce their emissions, and countries are investing in cleaner, renewable energy solutions. It is critical that we continue to push a positive message, highlighting the huge benefits for the health of people and the planet that is in our grasp.
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News
US withdraws from UNFCCC and IPCC
The US administration has announced its withdrawal from the international treaty to combat global warming – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and International Renewable Energy Agency, along with multiple other climate-focused bodies. While the move has been reported as deeply concerning in terms of global delivery of climate targets, experts have also indicated that the Trump administration has effectively already withdrawn from international climate action and that progress will not collapse because of their actions. Carbon Brief has published an in-depth Q&A on what the withdrawal means for global climate action.
2025 was the hottest year ever in the UK
2025 was both the hottest and the sunniest year ever recorded in the UK. All of the top ten hottest years in the UK have occurred within the last 20 years and four of the last five years appear in the top five warmest years since 1884. Every month apart from January and September were warmer than average, and the six months from March to August, every month was at least 1C above the 1991-2000 average. Sea surface temperatures around the UK were also exceptionally high with widespread marine heatwave conditions. There was below average rainfall for much of the year followed by above average rainfall towards the end of 2025 resulting in the UK dealing with both drought and flooding impacts over the course of the year. More detailed analysis is available from the Met Office.
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Have your say
Scotland’s Climate Change Plan
The Scottish Parliament is seeking views on their draft Climate Change Plan. The input will inform the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee’s questioning of witnesses, including the Cabinet Secretary, and influence the Government’s final plan. The Plan covers four themes on: accessibility, transparency, the inclusion of community-led climate action, and support for households. Share your views here by 25 January 2026.
Delivering the Neighbourhood Health Service
The UK Health and Social Care Committee is inviting written evidence to an inquiry into what is needed from the NHS estate to deliver the government’s vision of a ‘neighbourhood health service’ with a shift from hospital to community. The inquiry will examine the physical infrastructure requirements needed to realise the shift and assess how existing NHS buildings can be repurposed, the role of new builds, and the use of non-NHS spaces to deliver community-based care. The deadline for submitting evidence is Friday 13 February. Have your say
Climate distress in children and young people
Researchers in the School of Psychology at Cardiff University are seeking professionals of any kind that have either direct or research experience with children and young people experiencing climate distress to complete two rounds of a survey. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes and participants have the option both to enter a prize draw for up to £100 and to be named as a contributor to the study. Share your views.
Call for a televised national emergency briefing
On the back of the National Emergency Briefing on 27 November, calls are being made for a national televised emergency briefing to the public. A letter to the Prime Minister and the heads of BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, S4C, and Ofcom says that all public service broadcasters are required to inform the public of major and international issues and that the UK has failed to meet this obligation. It calls for a televised national emergency briefing and public engagement campaign to ensure the risks are well understood. Sign the letter.
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Opportunities/Get Involved
Clean Air Night: Thursday 22 January 2026
There’s less than a week to go to Clean Air Night 2026 and get involved in the campaign to raise awareness about the health harms of domestic wood burning to ensure people have the information they need to protect their health and the environment. There is an excellent comms pack to support activity on the day – use the #CleanAirNight when posting on social media. If you want to build awareness yourself, read the Ricardo report or watch the webinar recording to learn more about the research quantifying the impacts of domestic burning on health.
Join Mums for Lungs poster campaign for Clean Air Night
One way to get involved in Clean Air Night is by joining Mums for Lungs (pink) poster campaign. Order a poster, put it up on the evening of 20 January and take a picture the next day to create a social buzz and awareness around Clean Air Night. The posters can be put on noticeboards, the window of your house or workplace, or anywhere you think they will be seen. Don’t forget to post a picture on socials and the hashtag #CleanAirNight. Order your posters here.
SAVE THE DATE: Show the Love, 14 February 2026
The Climate Coalition’s Show the Love returns on 14 February 2026 – a moment to celebrate the places we live, the people we love, and the progress already happening across our communities, using the green heart as a symbol of care and connection. This year, the focus is on a simple act of care and leadership: sending a green heart to your local politician, telling them what’s at the heart of the future you want to protect. Because at the heart of a healthier, fairer, safer future is climate and nature action. We’ll share everything you need to take part soon; for now please save the date and get ready to join a UK-wide wave of love and action.
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Events and Courses
ATACH webinar series
The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) is hosting a number of webinars over the coming weeks. Details and registration for each of the events can be accessed here.
4 February 2026: Building climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health facilities in Africa (webinar 5 of this monthly series)
19 January 2026: Special consultation of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health
22 January 2026: Decarbonising the healthcare supply change
27 January 2026: From data to action: Measuring health system emissions
29 January 2026: Reviewing progress in terms of climate-health indicators
4 February 2026: Building climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health facilities in Africa (webinar 5 of this monthly series)
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Tackling air pollution: The human and planetary benefits of active travel
18.30-20.00 Tuesday 20 January 2026 | Online
Discover how air pollution impacts both people and the planet, and how active travel can drive healthier lifestyles, cleaner air and lower carbon emissions. This webinar hosted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow will feature a dynamic panel discussion and live Q&A offering practical, real-world perspectives. Register here.
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Women, nature, and 2030: a transformational global climate solution
18.30-20.00 Tuesday 20 january 2026 | In person and online
Climate change is not gender-neutral – not in its impact on women and girls, nor in the solutions women are leading. This lecture will share new research revealing how women’s leadership is providing new pathways to address the climate crisis. Register here.
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Lunchtime 101: Air pollution
13.00-14.00 Tuesday 20 january 2026 | Online
Why is air pollution still a health risk in Scotland? And what can we do about it? Medical experts, environmental advocates, and community campaigners will discuss how we can guarantee our right to clean air at this webinar by Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland. Register here.
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In case of emergency
Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 January 2025 | In person
In June 2024, six medics stood trial for cracking the windows of JP Morgan Bank. They pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal damage, arguing their aim was to preserve human life and prevent suffering. This verbatim play about the trial is a story of hope, courage, care and hope. Buy tickets here.
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Thriving in an age of disasters: how to build emotional resilience and take action
1.00 6 February 2026 | In person and online
This webinar will explore the emotional dimensions of climate change and the powerful connection between individual wellbeing and collective action. Participants will gain practical tools and resources for cultivating emotional resilience, alongside concrete strategies for taking meaningful, values-aligned action in their communities. Find out more
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Deep Green
13.00-14.00 Tuesday 10 February
This event will present the development of a web-based toolkit ‘Deep Green’ for use in primary care to improve engagement with green social prescribing of older patients living in deprived areas. Register here.
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CleanMed Europe 2026
23-25 June 2026 | In person and online
Europe’s leading conference on sustainable healthcare will once again bring together everyone committed to building a sustainable and climate-resilient healthcare sector. Organised by Health Care Without Harm Europe, the opening day (23 June) will run in a hybrid format from London during London Climate Action Week, with days 2 and 3 (24-25 June) continuing fully online. Find out more
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Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Courses
Designed for health professionals, educators, and sustainability or estates managers, CSH has a range of courses offering a mix of core concepts, case studies, and the sharing of interdisciplinary perspectives and experiences. Find out more.
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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
Parasol Lost report
A new report by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and the University of Exeter has warns that policymakers and financial institutions are underestimating climate risks that could undermine the global financial system. Download the report.
Health Impact Assessment resources
Public Health Scotland has produced a new set of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) resources to help decision makers, practitioners, and others better understand how policies, plans, projects, and strategies impact population health and how those impacts are distributed across the communities. The free, practical tools include a range of resources including case studies covering an Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) used to assess the adverse weather and health plan programme of work and a HIA used to inform the Scottish National Adaptation Plan. Find out more.
Act Now, Change Forever impact report
The Climate Coalition has published an impact report sharing some key outcomes from the Act Now, Change Forever mass lobby on 9 July. Over 5,000 people from across 91% of UK constituencies engaged with the campaign, leading to thousands of conversations between MPs and the people they represent. The campaign demonstrated that climate and nature are not fringe concerns, but issues that are fundamental to people’s economic stability, social wellbeing and long term health. Access the report to find lots of useful insights and learnings from the campaign.
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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.
- This substack says the newly published dietary guidelines for Americans have failed to deliver the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, including recommendations to prioritise plant sources of protein and reduce red and processed meat consumption.
- ‘How does climate change affect physiotherapists and what can we do about it?’ is the question asked in this study.
- This metastudy explores how persuasive the most-cited climate change messaging strategies are and identified several that worked while also highlighting the limits of others to support climate action
- Just 10 days into 2026, the world’s richest 1% had already used their fair share of emissions, according to this report on analysis by Oxfam
- Did COP30 do enough for health? Four experts share their insights on this Dialogue Earth roundtable
- Research has shown that small tweaks to the way food is presented, describer and service can influence behaviour and decision making. In this article, a behavioural scientist says these ‘nudge’ techniques could be key to shifting to more sustainable meals.
- This analysis reports that coal power has dropped in China and India for the first time in 52 years after clean energy records
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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 info@ukhealthalliance.org. The next bulletin will be published on Friday 13 February 2026.