17th October 2025
Last month, the Planetary Health Check 2025 revealed that seven of the nine planetary boundaries – the thresholds that keep life on Earth within a safe operating zone – have now been breached, with the planetary boundary for ocean acidification breached for the first time. This week, the Global Tipping Points report warned that Earth has reached its first catastrophic tipping point and is on the brink of reaching others. As we approach COP30 in Brazil, these reports lay out how human influences on Earth, including greenhouse gas emissions and large-scale land-use changes, are destabilizing Earth systems and resilience, increasing the risk of abrupt and potentially irreversible shifts that threaten livelihoods. In the UK, the Climate Change Committee has advised the government to plan for global heating reaching 2C above preindustrial levels by 2050 as a minimum level, warning that faster rates of heating are possible and at the high end of possibilities could reach 4C by the end of the century. We must continue to call for actions to address the urgency of the threat, welcome progress when it breaks through, and build resilience to protect lives.
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News
EAT Lancet 2.0
The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report published on 3 October calls for a ‘Great Food Transformation’ that addresses health, sustainability and justice. The report emphasises that the wealthiest 30% of the global population drives over 70% of food-related environmental impact and that up to 15 million premature deaths could be prevented annually if the planetary health diet was adopted. UKHACC has produced a HOW TO Guide for organisations seeking to prioritise plant-based and sustainably sourced food in their workplaces. Download the guide.
UK Conservative Party leader plans to repeal Climate Change Act
Earlier this month, the leader of the UK Conservative Party claimed she would repeal the UK Climate Change Act 2008 if elected into government. The claim was widely criticised by multiple organisations and individuals, with the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change saying that scrapping the Climate Change Act would be an act of self-harm that condemns this and future generations to unnecessary suffering. Read more.
NHS England five year net zero report
Five years since NHS England published its net zero strategy, it has seen a 14% reduction in emissions from sources it directly controls (68% since 1990), putting it on track to reach its interim target of 80% reduction by 2028-32. The Greener NHS programme must be commended for this success and for the global leadership it has demonstrated. However, progress on scope 3 emissions has stalled, global emissions and scientific data have changed greatly over the last five years, and further action at pace and scale is needed. Read more.
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Have your say
Rosebank decision is LIVE
Equinor has submitted its new application to develop the Rosebank oilfield, which means the UK Government will need to make a decision on whether to reject or approve the field. The government is running a public consultation until 20 November on the new information submitted by Equinor prior to making its decision. This is a critical time to demonstrate the strength of feeling among the health community of the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels to protect health, and the need to reject Rosebank due to the significant risk to health. The Stop Rosebank team has launched an online action to gather thousands of messages to tell Keir Starmer to Stop Rosebank, which will be submitted to the consultation. They’ve also launched an open letter for groups and organisations. UKHACC is also working on a health-focused open letter which we will share next week.
Defend the Climate Change Act
Following a pledge by the Conservative Party leader to repeal the UK’s Climate Change Act, the Climate Coalition is seeking your help to ensure MPs of every part hear that people in every constituency want practical, fair and forward-looking action – not rollbacks. They’ve created tailored, easy-to-use guidance including clear examples and local framing for MPs; template messages and talking points; and positive asks they can act on now (including attending the National Emergency Briefing on 27 November). We’ve come too far to turn back. This is the moment for MPs to protect our progress and stand for people, climate and nature. Make sure they hear what you have to say.
Petition: Stop the Government’s plan threatening nature
Friends of the Earth have launched a petition calling on the government to withdraw the Planning and Infrastructure Bill because of the risks it places on the environment and public services. The petition argues that rather than allowing developers to pay a levy to avoid protections for nature, the government should prioritise restoring empty homes, protecting green spaces and investing in communities. Have your say.
Petition: Make polluters pay
As five carmakers go on trial at the UK High Court this week facing allegations of misleading diesel emissions tests by using software to lower readings, Mums for Lungs is calling on people to sign a petition to the UK Government to make polluters pay. The petition calls on the government to make car manufacturers pay for the costs associated with the ‘dieselgate’ scandal and clean up polluting cars from our roads. Have your say.
Speak up for forests
Around the world, vast areas of forest are being destroyed every day and 1.6 billion people who rely on forests face losing their way of life. Forest, like the Amazon rainforest, absorb up to one third of the greenhouse gas emissions and are one of our greatest assets in the fight against climate change. But they are being pushed towards a point of no return. If just 5% more tree cover in the Amazon rainforest is destroyed, the forest is likely to decay, dry out and die. WWF is calling on people to email their MP to demand our government seizes the chance to protect forests, and all those who depend on them, at COP30. Write to your MP.
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Opportunities/Get involved
Clean Air Night: Thursday 22 January 2026
Get involved in Clean Air Night and spark the conversation about the health harms of domestic wood burning to ensure everyone has the information they need to protect their health and the environment. Keep up to date with the campaign and find out ways to get involved by signing up to the newsletter. Global Action Plan will be sharing a comms pack with supporters (available on the Clean Air Night website in November. Find out more.
Help improve Wikipedia article on infectious disease and climate change
The Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter is calling on experts in infectious disease and climate change to help improve the Wikipedia article Climate change and infectious disease. Wikipedia is read 15 billion times every month. It’s where millions first turn for health and climate information. Your expertise can help ensure that what people find there is accurate, accessible, and evidence-based. Get involved by attending a 1 hour zoom workshop hosted by the Global Systems Institute. No previous wikipedia experience is necessary as a collaboratively edited simple Google doc version of the article will be used and then made to Wikipedia by the organisers. The workshops will be held on 20th (1pm) and 26th (4pm) of November (you only need to attend one session). Register via Zoom. Questions? Email t.baleta@exeter.ac.uk
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Events and courses
Rising temperatures, rising stress: Expanding mental health access in climate emergencies
14.00-15.00 Tuesday 21 October 2025 | Online
This Crossroads in Global Mental Health webinar will discuss how we can better support those deeply impacted by the climate crisis with experts and frontline workers sharing challenges faced by communities in vulnerable environments in accessing mental health and psychosocial support; strategies for fostering resilience; and ways organisations and policymakers can prioritise mental well being in the face of climate disasters. Register here.
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GenZ voices on climate and mental health
12.00-13.00 (MT) 19.00-20.00 (UK) Thursday 23 October 2025 | Online
A conversation exploring the intersection of climate change, mental health, and indigenous perspectives, featuring members of the Gen Z Climate Mental Health Network. The session will feature a panel discussion and Q&A with youth voices reflecting on their lived experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future. Register here.
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We need to talk about adaptation: Report & SAFER online campaign launch
8.15-9.45 Tuesday 28 October 2025 | Online
The Climate Majority’s latest report – – launches on 28 October. This online breakfast meeting will share the Climate Majority’s latest report – We need to talk about adaptation – and explore how the SAFER campaign is seeking to increasing the profile, amount and quality of adaptation in the UK. Register here
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Launch: 2025 Lancet Countdown global report on health and climate change
14.00-15.00 Wednesday 29 October 2025 | Online | Register online
15.30-18.00 Thursday 30 October 2025 | In person, London | Register in person
The 2025 Lancet Countdown Report marks the ninth annual assessment of the connections between health and climate change. Authored by 128 experts across UN agencies and academic institutions, it tracks 57 indicators including 8 new or improved metrics on heat mortality, wildfire smoke, infectious diseases, and adaptation.
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Working with … mainstream media outlets and the parliamentary lobby
10.30-11.30 Thursday 30 October 2025 | Online
This session explores why strong media connections are important for keeping your issues on the agenda, how to choose the best format for approaching media contacts and practical advice on building and maintaining relationships. Register here.
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Indoor Air: Research at the Science-Policy Interface
Wednesday-Thursday 5-6 November 2025 | University of York
Bringing together leading researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the latest evidence on indoor air quality and its implications for policy in the UK. Day 1 will focus on findings from the UKRI clean air programme and new research projects. Day 2 will showcase how UK research can generate the evidence needed to inform effective policies. Register here.
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Quantifying the health harms of woodburning
12.00-13.00 Thursday 6 November 2025 | Online
Global Action Plan will present findings from research with Hertfordshire County Council to quantify the health harms of wood burning in the UK. The webinar is suitable for people wanting to learn more about the wider health and environmental impacts of wood burning and what the potential benefits of policy intervention would be. Register here.
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Greener Practice new website launch
13.00-13.30 Tuesday 18 November 2025 | Online
In 30 minutes, see how greener healthcare delivers better patient outcomes, cost savings, happier teams, and CQC confidence – all while helping save the planet! This session will provide a quick tour of the new website, packed with ready-to-use quality improvement projects and practical resources, along with user insights and Q&A. Register here.
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People, policy and research power to document and address the health harms of fossil fuels and industry practices
15.30-16.30 GFT (18.30-19.30 GMT) Wednesday 19 November 2025 | In person and Online
A collaboration between the UK Faculty of Public Health, Global Climate and Health Alliance, Amnesty International, Corporate Accountability, International Institute of Sustainable Development, Ad Free Cities and the Fossil Fuel Non-Profileration Treaty, this COP30 side event in the WHO Health Pavillion can be attended in person or online. WHO Pavilion webpage for more.
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Communicate Climate conference
25-27 November 2025 | Manchester, London, Bristol and online
With a theme of ‘Against the Odds’ the long-running communication climate conference brings together professionals from across the UK to define, debate and share best practice. Register here. A bursary scheme to support attendance from local community leaders and individuals from marginalised or underrepresented backgrounds is available. Deadline for applications is 20 October. Find out more.
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Workshops: Empower your organisation with climate and biodiversity intelligence
Structured workshops for organisations are designed to empower leadership teams to kickstart impactful organisation-wide sustainability initiatives and the building blocks to incorporate climate and nature positive measures into a broader corporate social responsibility policy. Workshops include Climate Fresk, Biodiversity Collage, and the impacts of AI on your organisation and society. 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
HOW TO: Prioritise plant-based and sustainably sourced food
This toolkit explains why, what and how to implement plant-based and sustainably sourced food in your organisation. Produced to support health organisations to lead the way in food system transformation, the toolkit will be useful to any organisation seeking to introduce a healthier, climate friendly food policy. Download the guide.
Climate ready Scotland
The recently updated climate projections for Scotland report explains how climate change is impacting now and in the future under low and high emissions scenarios. It predicts wetter winters, drier summers, and more variable and unpredictable weather with extreme events becoming more common – putting more pressure on our environment, lives, and livelihoods. Find out more.
Committee on medical ethics of air pollution reports
The Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollution (COMEAP) has published two reports. One updates on COMEAP’s views on the shape of the concentration-response function (CRF) which is used to quantify the public health burden of air pollution and to predict the health benefits of reductions in air pollution concentrations. The second is an assessment of evidence on the health effects of nano- and microplastic particles and fibres in the environment. Both reports can be accessed here along with the 2024 annual report.
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Articles, videos, podcasts
We’ve pulled together a list of recent articles, podcasts and videos worth reading, watching, listening and sharing.
- This new four part podcast series – Overshoot: Navigating a world beyond 1.5C – co-produced by the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative and Planet B Productions is worth a listen.
- This report by Better Transport brings together key findings on the economic and wider social value of rail to make a case for capital and revenue investment in the railway network
- Despite meat and livestock production being major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, this analysis by Sentient Media found that more than 96% of 940 climate news stories across 11 media outlets made no mention of meat or livestock production as a cause of climate change.
- This analysis by Carbon Brief found that electricity demand on the island of Great Britain fully covered the output of clean-energy sources for a record 87 hours in 2025.
- The latest video from the EuroHealthNet four-video series on climate, health and the built environment features a visit to the Barmherzige Bruder Wien hospital to learn about the changes they are making to the hospital’s built environment to reduce its climate emissions and create a health and sustainable environment for patients and staff.
- This article in the Financial Times reports that the cost of extreme weather and climate change in the EU over the last four years was €44.5bn, two and a half times more than the decade to 2019.
- This satirical and provocative animation – The Well-Oiled Plan – produced by the Global Climate and Health Alliance in collaboration with My Pet Footprint, uses wit to reveal how PR tactics from the fossil fuel industry continue to fuel the climate and health crisis.
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