18th July 2025
The UK Government has published the long awaited 10 year health plan for England, setting out their vision to deliver the three shifts from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Critically, the plan included a commitment to prioritise actions to deliver a net zero health service by 2040 for emissions the NHS controls and by 2045 for emissions it can influence. All NHS bodies will be expected to decarbonise, reduce their environmental impact and increase resilience to climate risks. The plan was published just days after a new report from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change warned that the UK health system is not equipped for adapting to the climate crisis and that immediate action is needed across a number of areas to build resilience. This includes investment, preparing the workforce, integration of climate adaption and health policies, and implementation. We wait to see how the 10 year plan will deliver the transformative changes needed. Our initial response to the plan can be viewed here.
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News and updates
5,000 people call on MPs to act now for a healthier, fairer, safer future
On 9 July, thousands of people came together at Westminster to lobby their MPs in one of the biggest moments for climate and nature this year, and one of the largest mass lobbies of the decade. The lobby, which was organised by the Climate Coalition centred around three core asks to deliver funding to communities hardest hit by climate change; backing UK jobs and a greener fairer future; and restoring nature.
Blueprint for government action on clean air
A coalition of over 30 leading health, environment and transport organisations that come together as the Healthy Air Coalition has published a blueprint for government action on clean air. At its core is a call for stronger science-based air quality targets and a robust legislation framework to drive real policy change. Find out more.
Concerns raised about National Food Strategy Board
Seventeen health organisations, including the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and Doctors Association UK, have expressed concern over the UK Government appointed National Food Strategy Board. The concerns raised say the board is heavily weighted with representatives from the food and agribusiness industries while lacking sufficient voices from public health, nutrition, and climate science.
UKHACC calls on PM to reject Rosebank
Following the recent publication of updated guidance for oil and gas companies that requires scope 3 emissions to be considered in Environmental Impact Assessments, it is anticipated that the companies behind the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields in the North Sea will submit new applications for consent. This marks a major test for the government to put its strong words about a commitment to a green energy future into action by rejecting the fields. UKHACC Chair, Richard Smith has written to the PM reasserting concerns around the significant harms to health that would come if approval was granted.
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Have your say
SAFER petition
This petition calls on the government to fund a national climate resilience plan to protect communities from climate impacts. It calls for a joined-up national strategy with local funding, upland and urban flood prevention, community resilience, ecologically sound infrastructure, housing, health, food and water security. It also makes the point that adaptation isn’t optional, it needs to be a policy priority. Sign the petition.
Demand cleaner air: Protect our children’s future
Air pollution in the UK is harming our health, especially our kids. Right now, the legal limits for harmful pollution like nitrogen dioxide are four times higher than the WHO limits. Asthma+Lung UK has launched a petition to demand better and urging the UK government to immediately adopt the WHO-s ambitious clean air standards with a clean plan to reach them. Add your name.
Health and Care Professionals Council consultation
The HCPC has launched a survey to inform their next corporate strategy. The survey is the first part of engagement to capture a wide range of views about their work and wider sectoral challenges people foresee in the years ahead. The findings from the survey will be used to develop their future priorities from 2026. It is critical that the health impacts of climate change, the need for sustainable delivery of healthcare, and building resilience to future threats are included in the HCPC’s planning. Let them know what you think here.
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Opportunities/Get involved
Join the Scottish mass lobby
On Thursday 18 September, hundreds of people from across Scotland will go to the Scottish Parliament to meet with their MSPs to tell them they want leadership to protect what matters most – our health, our nature, our communities, our climate, and our future. Sign up to take part.
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. The campaign 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. If your organisation has not yet signed the commitment, this is a great time to do so: Sign the Fossil-Free Health Communications Commitment here
Global Action Plan job opportunities
Global Action Plan is a charity that helps people live more sustainable lives by connecting what is good for us and good for the planet. They are currently advertising a number of roles – an opportunity to work with this great organisation! Roles open for application include:
- Digital Engagement & PR Officer
- Partnerships Manager
- Emerging Film Maker (3 roles)
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Events and courses
Eating Better webinar series
Online, various dates
14.00-15.00, Tuesday 22 July 2025: Positive tipping points – making dietary change doable, with Peter Lefort. Register
11.00-12.00, Wednesday 30 July 2025: Understand the Institute of Grocery Distribution and their role in the food system. Register
11.00-12.00, Thursday 7 August 2025: Changing the narrative – a summary and learnings from a recent ‘changing the narrative’ producer sessions. Register
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2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health
29-31 July 2025 | Brasilia, Brazil
Hosted by the Government of Brazil, the WHO, and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), this will also serve as the annual in-person meeting of ATACH providing a platform to highlight the role of ambitious and equitable climate action in global health. The invitation list is currently being curated.
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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.
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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.
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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
The ‘Triple Dividend’ of adaptation investment
A new report by the World Resources Institute on Strengthening the Investment Care for Climate Adaptation found that each $1 invested in adaptation can yield more than $10.50 in benefits over 10 years. The benefits reflect not only the avoided losses from climate impacts, but also a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits that are generated even when disasters don’t occur. Adaptation investments in the health sector were found to bring some of the greatest returns. Read the summary report.
Your Health as the Climate Changes
A new book by Dr Scott G Fraser focuses on how the climate is changing, the direct effects these changes will have on wellbeing, and the urgent choices we need to make. It makes the point that climate change is becoming increasingly personal and we need to be prepared as individuals, healthcare systems and countries. Find out more
Takeaway from the World Health Assembly
The Global Climate and Health Alliance has pulled together the insights of members from across their global community on the 78th World Health Assembly which unpacks progress made, identifies gaps, and describes what’s needed to move the agenda forward. Read the report
Nuclear power position statement
The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change has published a position statement on nuclear power in the UK which says that nuclear power must be limited to back up storage and not come at the expense of investment in renewables. Read the statement.
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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 Carbon Brief interview with UK Climate Envoy Rachel Kyte is well worth a read, a listen or a watch (all options available!)
- Rapid analysis from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says human-induced climate change may have tripled the number of heat related deaths from the European heatwaved from 23 June to 2 July 2025.
- This paper in Royal Society of Public Health journal argues the MPOWER policy framework developed to support countries implement tobacco control could be adapted for fossil fuels.
- New research from the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems claims around 40% of petrochemicals are used by food systems around the world, mainly through synthetic fertilisers and plastic packaging.
- The RealZero Podcast explores the science, impacts and innovative solutions to help us navigate the climate crisis from practical steps individuals can take to bold societal shifts.
- In this edition of the Outrage + Optimism podcast, Australian PM and current chair of Wellcome Trust Julia Gillard makes the case for health to become central to climate communication.
- This paper identifies barriers and opportunities hospital Estate and Facility Management professionals encounter in the journey towards sustainable and climate-resilient hospital estates.
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