UKHACC Bulletin October 2023
The first-ever NHS Net Zero Clinical Care conference, jointly organised by the BMJ and UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, took place earlier this week providing insight into all the incredible work that is happening across the UK to transition health systems to net zero. From decommissioning nitrous oxides to health students influencing curriculum change, there was a diverse range of interesting practices that were highlighted. We hope the success of the conference will pave the way for a more collaborative and positive exchange of information. The recording of the conference and e-posters are available for viewing. UKHACC Chair, Richard Smith has written this excellent blog on his reflections on the 12 C’s for getting health systems to carbon net zero.
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News and updates
LAUNCHED!! Biodiversity, Climate Change and Health Policy Report
The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change has launched a policy report on biodiversity, climate change and health. The two-part policy report focuses on terrestrial and marine ecosystems and has seven recommendations targeted at the UK Government and other relevant institutions. The report can be downloaded from our webpage.
Letter to the PM: Dilution of UK’s Net Zero commitments
On 20th September, PM Rishi Sunak delivered his speech on net zero where he elaborated on his plans to dilute climate policies. We wrote to the PM urging him to increase and not reduce the energy with which the UK must counter the major threat to health from climate change. The letter can be viewed here.
Letter to MSPs: Human Rights Bill Scotland (consultation)
We submitted a response on ‘Right to a healthy environment’ to the call for consultation for the Human Rights Bill Scotland. We also joined with many of our members in a letter to MSPs urging them to support the ‘Right to a Healthy Environment’ at this pressing time when the world is facing a triple planetary crisis: Climate change, air pollution and nature and biodiversity loss. The letter and the consultation response can be viewed here.
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Have your say
Write to your MPs to ask the UK Government to keep its climate commitments.
The Climate Coalition has launched a ‘write to your MP’ campaign following the recent U-turn on key net zero targets announced by Rishi Sunak in September. The email tells MPs why this is not the time to water down climate commitments and calls on them to write to the Secretary of State. Email your MP to ask the UK Government to keep its climate commitments.
Greener Pharmacy Guides Consultation
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has developed Greener Pharmacy Guides to support pharmacy teams working in community and hospital pharmacies to make their professional practice more environmentally sustainable by reducing carbon emissions. The guide is to be published in spring 2024 and they have opened a consultation for members and partners. The last date to respond is 8th November 2023.
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Opportunities/Get involved
Participate In Research: Medicines sustainability
The Care Quality Commission is conducting research to drive innovation and accelerate improvement in medicines sustainability. Medicines account for 25% of the NHS’s total carbon emissions. All health and social care providers are invited to participate in this survey and support this research.
NHS Forests: Request your trees for 2023-24
NHS Forests is now taking requests for free trees to be planted in NHS-England sites from November 2023 to March 2024 for sites in England. The trees will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Further information and request forms can be found here.
21 Days Challenge: Plant-Based Health
Plant-based diets have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, obesity and some forms of cancer. Plant Based Health Professionals have launched a 21-day plant-based health challenge to receive recipes, nutrition advice and motivational tips from nutrition experts. For more information click here.
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Courses and Events
19 October 2023 | 7pm BST | Online
A Physician Previvor’s Journey from Breast Cancer Awareness to Action with Lifestyle Medicine
In this webinar hosted by the Plant Based Health Professionals, participants will learn about the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors of breast cancer and the everyday lifestyle actions that are in their control to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Register here.
21-22 October 2023 | Hybrid – New York, USA
Climate and Health Conference 2023
The conference is being organised to bring attention to the importance of climate change from a human health standpoint and build connections within the health community prior to COP28. Further details can be found here.
7 November 2023 | Manchester, UK
NICE 2023 Conference
The NICE Conference has an exciting agenda including healthcare and net zero. Registration details and the agenda can be found here.
14-16 November 2023 | Hybrid – Bristol, London, Manchester
Communicate 2023: Together for Nature
The Natural History Consortium is organising the annual conference for environmental communicators and is themed around being together for nature. UKHACC will be joined in a session on joining up climate, nature and health. Click here for more details.
Recording | Until 31st March 2024
VegMed conference: On-Demand Access to Recording
The VegMed conference was held on the 9th and 10th of September. Viewing passes allow access to the recording for both days of the VegMed conference. Further information can be found here.
Multiple dates
Greening transport in your area
Low Traffic Future Alliance is running a series of workshops in Birmingham, Bristol, York, London and Manchester to provide information on how to get involved in the activity to press for a low-traffic future in your area, meet others with similar interests, and engage with your council. Find out more here.
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New resources
Toolkit: A behavioural approach to understanding and addressing wood burning
A new toolkit launched by the Global Action Plan addresses the issue of the domestic burning of solid fuels. It showcases the most impactful way to communicate about the harms of wood burning with the public and provides actionable guidance on content, tone, messaging and who we should be targeting. The toolkit can be viewed here.
Report: It’s time to act on processed meat by Eating Better
A new resource from Eating Better considers the health impacts of processed meat and highlights the need for public sector caterers and health organisations to focus efforts on reducing processed meat consumption in the UK. View the report here.
Report: The Future is Local: Local Mission Zero Network Report by Mission Zero Coalition
This report highlights that with 85% of UK emissions being within the local authorities’ scope of influence, empowering greater local decision-making must be central to UK climate action. There are practicable policy recommendations, following on from the Net Zero Review, to support this transition. Read the report here.
Report: State of Nature Report 2023 by the State of Nature Partnership
The most comprehensive report on the UK’s current biodiversity. The report states that the UK’s wildlife continues to decline and the nation is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Read the full report here.
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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 this blog piece “Good Medical Practice” and the Climate Crisis by Rammina Yassaie.
- Listen to this new podcast by Plant-Based Health Professionals – In a Nutshell.
- This podcast ‘Our Lives, Our Planet’ hosted by the Global Action Plan explores ‘Luxury For All’ in the first series.
- In this BMJ article, Anandita Pattnaik and Elaine Mulcahy write about how delivering climate and nature commitments is crucial for health.
- The BMJ’s annual climate special issue is out and has a collation of interesting articles.
- This article published by the Health Foundation highlights the four key areas of transition to net zero NHS.
- Read this Guardian article to learn more about how extreme weather events cost a whopping £13m per hour.
- Watch this BMJ video in which Maria Neira (WHO) calls on politicians to courageously tackle the climate crisis.
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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 17 November 2023.