19th September 2025
We open our September news bulletin with news of new co-Chairs of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change as Hugh Montgomery and Sandy Mather step into the role. We are extremely grateful and sad to say goodbye to outgoing Chair, Richard Smith who has given so much over the last six years, but pleased to move forward with two outstanding individuals in the role as co-Chairs.
Speaking on his departure, Richard Smith said: “We have made progress in my six years of being chair, but last year saw the largest emissions of greenhouse gases ever and a big spike in global temperature. The climate and nature crisis seems to be accelerating, and I wish Hugh and Sandy well in moving UKHACC to the next level in responding and adapting.”
Hugh Montgomery, who is a Professor of Medicine at UCL and a leading expert on climate and health said: “I am delighted to be offered this role at such an important moment. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned, further inaction means that we may soon miss ‘a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future’ As healthcare professionals, we more than any, understand what an ‘emergency response’ truly is and I look forward to working with UKHACC to deliver one and meet the moral responsibility which has, so sadly, been placed upon us all.”.
Sandy Mather, former CEO of the Intensive Care Society, said: “We exist only because of the climate emergency and my highest hope is that we could achieve the ultimate goal as a charity and make such a significant impact that we are no longer needed. As an alliance of health organisations, we represent 1 million healthcare professionals who together have the power to make a difference. Now is our time to make a step change as we enter a critical window of time to take accelerated action against climate change.”
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News and updates
Devastating global health harms of fossil fuels revealed
A sweeping new report has revealed the devastating impacts of fossil fuel extraction and use on human health. Cradle to Grave: The Health Toll of Fossil Fuels and the Imperative for a Just Transition provides the first comprehensive global overview of the health consequences associated with fossil fuel use at every stage of their lifecycle, from extraction to waste, and across the human lifespan, from pregnancy and pre-birth to old age. Find out more.
UK: A nation of nature lovers concerned about climate change
A landmark study of more than 7,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales has revealed that across the political spectrum, people feel positive and proud about the country’s efforts to protect the environment and transition to clean energy. The Britain Talks Climate & Nature report by Climate Outreach and More in Common reveals a nation of nature lovers with deep concern about climate change, its impact on future generations, and broad support for new energy solutions. Access the report and accompanying communications toolkit here.
New DEFRA ministers urged to back plant-based
A 10-point plan endorsed by leading organisations and businesses from the food, farming, health, sustainability, and animal welfare sectors has been submitted to DEFRA with a call to implement measures to increase production and consumption of plant-rich diets in the UK in order to meet the goals of DEFRA’s Good Food Cycle food strategy. Find out more.
Shifting attitudes towards meat
Public attitudes research conducted by the Eating Better Alliance and The Food Foundation has found that attitudes towards meat are shifting with trends showing continued appetite for change, with 22% of people eating less meat now than they were a year ago and almost half of people eating meat less than 4 times a week. However, there is a perception gap – while two-thirds of people are open to the idea of reducing how much meat they eat, the majority of the population believe that fewer than 40% of people would be open to doing so. Find out more here.
Countdown on health and plastics launched
The Lancet has launched a global initiative to track the links between plastics and health and publish regular reports to inform future policy and hold governments and industry accountable. The launch was marked by an inaugural report published just days before UN negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty talks failed to reach agreement. While this setback is disappointing, there is growing momentum around health as a unifying goal. The first full Lancet Countdown report is expected in 2026. Read this excellent summary for more.
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Have your say
Recommending key health-climate topics for official statistics
The UK Standards for Official Statistics on Climate-Health Interactions (SOSCHI) project aims to finalise its recommendations for harmonised reporting of global climate-health impacts by the end of 2025 with the release of methodological guidance on 10 indicator topics and online calculators. You can give feedback and sign up to the newsletter to be kept up to date here.
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, 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. Sign the Fossil-Free Health Communications Commitment
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Opportunities/Get involved
Join the campaign to end carbon inequality
Research from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Oxfam has found the richest 1% of people around the world emit as much carbon pollution as the poorest 5 billion people combined. A new global campaign to end carbon inequality was launched this week with a powerful video that brought together more than 20 organisations around the world calling for systemic change. The campaign offers lots of different ways for people to get involved through petitions, campaigns, days of action and more. Get involved
Join the Planetary Health Report Card community
PHRC is currently recruiting health professional students to complete the Planetary Health Report Card and produce a comprehensive needs assessment of planetary health at their institution. Since 2019, the PHRC has helped students and faculty drive development of planetary health education across 15 countries. This is a great opportunity to get involved. Find out more here.
Join a Green Health Route walk – North East England
Two Green Health Routes have been developed by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in two Forestry England owned forests to help people get outside and enjoy fresh forest air and engage with local wild space. Find out more about the project, including upcoming walks and events, guides to the routes, lots of resources, and opportunities to give feedback on the NHS Forest website.
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Events and courses
How community health workers are responding to the health impacts of climate change
8.00 24 September 2025 | Webinar, Online
The health impacts of climate change disproportionately affect communities in low-resource, high-risk settings and is fundamentally reshaping health needs and straining already fragile systems. This webinar will shine a spotlight on community health workers’ (CHW) evolving role at the intersection of climate and health, highlighting lived experiences, policy gaps, and opportunities to better equip CHWs for climate-responsive care. Register here.
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NHS Forest Conference
10.00-16.00 2 October 2025 | Online
With the theme, Healing spaces, Thriving Communities: real-life strategies for outdoor environments and health, this conference will explore how green spaces can support mental and physical health, and discover practical, cost effective ways to work with communities and volunteers to transform healthcare sites. Register here.
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Planetary Health Annual Meeting
7-10 October 2025 | Rotterdam
With the theme, Planetary Health for All and in All: Boosting Urgency and Agency for Systems Change, this event brings together international speakers with scientific presentations, integration of arts, networking opportunities and social events to collectively address the pressing challenges facing our planet and chart a course for a healthier future. Register here.
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European Healthcare Climate Summit
14.00-16.30, 9 October 2025 | Online
Each year, Healthcare Without Harm brings together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and innovators to share strategies, exchange experiences, and drive meaningful climate action in healthcare. This year’s theme – Climate resilience at the halfway point: Mitigation and adaptation in a warmer Europe – underscores the urgency of action and the pathways to change. Register here.
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UNFCCC Conference of the Parties COP30
10-21 November 2025 | Belen
As we approach COP30 in Brazil, the international health community is working to develop side events and opportunities to engage with them throughout the event. Look out for updates here in our October newsletter.
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New Course: Green Operating Theatres
Following the publication of the Green Surgery Report last year, a new e-Learning module on Green Operating Theatres has been developed to prepare and support healthcare professionals working within operating theatres to implement changes in their practice to reduce environmental (and often social and financial) impacts while improving patient outcomes. The course has been developed by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, NHS e-Learning for Healthcare, Greener NHS, and a multidisciplinary team of staff with support from the Health Foundation and UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. Find out more.
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Centre for Sustainable 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
ATACH repository of country documents
The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) has launched a repository featuring key documents developed by countries on climate and health work, including vulnerability and adaptation assessments, health national adaptation plans, greenhouse gas emissions assessments, mitigation action plans and more. Access the repository here.
Public Health Scotland climate-health indicators
This new report scopes out the development of indicators for tracking how climate change affects health in Scotland across four key areas: heat, cold, flooding and air quality, with the aim of helping Scotland better track, adapt to, and reduce the health impacts of climate change, with equity at its core. Find out more.
New guide: Climate change and kids wellbeing
This guide by the Climate Mental Health Network includes tips for talking to children of all ages about climate change and addressing their climate emotions; how to support children with disabilities or are neurodiverse; ways families can take climate actions; and support for parents and caregivers well-being. Find out more.
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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 Factcheck from Carbon Brief debunks 16 myths about solar power.
- This article celebrates progress at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in adopting a more plant-rich food culture in the staff and visitor canteen after completing a successful pilot with Greener By Default.
- From reflective perspective pieces to reviews and cutting-edge research, all the recent publications on BMJ leaders’ call for papers on planetary health leadership can be found here. And more papers coming in the coming weeks.
- The latest edition of the RealZero Podcast explores the climate crisis in the context of national security, migration, infrastructure and global stability.
- Sing along with the Climate Choir who recently gathered in a busy London train station with a very catchy repurposing of a familiar tune.
- This in depth Carbon Brief analysis reports that emissions from India’s power sector could peak before 2030 if clean-energy capacity and electricity demand grow as expected.
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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 info@ukhealthalliance.org. The next bulletin will be published on Friday 17 October 2025