Climate Change - Health Sector Must Lead By Example, UK
The guide is endorsed by 19 environmental and health organisations, including the NHS Confederation, Sustainable Development Commission, CABE, the Local Government Association and Sustrans, and is supported by the Carbon Trust. It sets out the causes and consequences of climate change and looks at what organisations and individuals can do to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development.
The NHS in particular, as the biggest single organisation in the UK and one of the largest employers in the world, is in a unique position to take the lead on this most vital of issues. 'Because it is directly responsible for the health of the population, the NHS can provide a powerful example for other organisations to follow,' the guide says, and by acting as a good corporate citizen it would create a virtuous circle whereby public health would be improved and the burden on the health service eased.
The public health implications of climate change in the UK are extremely severe and cannot be ignored, says the guide. These range from the impact of global issues such as food shortages and mass migrations of populations as a result of armed conflicts over diminishing resources, to direct consequences within the UK. These could include huge numbers of heat-related excess summer deaths, outbreaks of vector-borne diseases and the potentially devastating public health implications of severe weather events such as flooding, among many others.
'We are facing a global public health catastrophe - and as a public health and healthcare community we must work together, using our collective knowledge, skills and networks, to reduce its impact and lead the change to a healthy, sustainable future,' says Faculty of Public Health President, Prof Alan Maryon Davis. 'Climate change is not only the single most important public health issue of the 21st Century, but it also links to many others, including health inequalities, emergency planning, communicable diseases and obesity. The health sector can really show the way.'
'People can feel helpless in the face of such a huge and overwhelming issue, but there is plenty that they can do - both as individuals and part of their organisations,' said Jenny Griffiths, a co-author of the guide. 'These range from walking or cycling instead using a car and taking care not to leave electrical appliances on standby, right up to carrying out a carbon audit, making sure environmental impact assessments become a routine part of all activities and developing a robust action plan. We in the health service are in a unique position to use the NHS' immense influence and purchasing power to lead by example. If we do not act now, the consequences are unthinkable.'
Notes:
1. For further information contact Lindsey Stewart, Policy and Communications, Faculty of Public Health T: 07886 960741 or 020 7935 3115. Interviews can be arranged with FPH President, Prof Alan Maryon-Davis and/or Jenny Griffiths, a co-author of the report.
2. Sustaining a Healthy Future - Taking Action on Climate Change is a new guide for the health sector on the importance of tackling climate change, and how prioritising action makes good business sense. The guide contains checklists for action for individuals, organisations and communities as well as a sustainability and health-check tool for all policies and strategies, examples of good practice, and a list of useful organisations. For a copy of the guide go to: www.fph.org.uk
3. The guide has been endorsed by:
- Association of Directors of Public Health
- British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)
- Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
- Climate and Health Council
- Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
- Institute of Public Health in Ireland
- Local Government Association
- Neil McKay, Chief Executive, NHS East of England
- National Heart Forum
- NHS Confederation
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Physicians of London
- Royal Institute of Public Health
- Royal Society of Health
- Scottish Healthy Environment Network Steering Group
- Sustain
- Sustainable Development Commission
- Sustrans
- UK Public Health Association
And is produced in consultation with the Carbon Trust.
4. The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the leading professional body for public health specialists in the UK. It aims to promote and protect the health of the population, and improve health services, by maintaining professional and educational standards, advocating on key public health issues, and providing practical information and guidance for public health professionals.
Faculty of Public Health
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