Sustainability climate change and health Dr Louise Newport

Sustainability, climate change and health Dr Louise Newport Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Extreme Weather Department of Health

Legislative Framework Climate Change Act 2008 Adaptation Reporting Power Adaptation Sub Committee Climate Change Risk Assessment January 2012 UKCP 09 (projections) 2009 National Adaptation Programme 2013 Policy and economic analysis Review every 5 years

Health Impacts of Climate Change …and the benefits of a low carbon lifestyle • Assessing the risks to health since 2002… & CCRA • Observed temperatures Simulated 2003 temperatures With benefits to health too…reducing NCDs 2060 s 2040 s Summer 2003: normal by 2040 s, cool by 2060 s Lower carbon saves lives! – and money!

Health Impacts of Climate Change Developing the UK evidence – 2002/08/2012 • Heatwave-related health problems • Aeroallergens – pollen etc • Air pollution – Respiratory & Cardiovascular effects • Indoor environment • UV - Sunburn, skin cancer and cataracts • Flooding / mental health consequences • Vector-borne diseases • Water & Food-borne disease • Extreme weather-related events (injuries / death) • But, decrease in cold-related illness & deaths

How the health risks are managed… NAP ‘Healthy & Resilient Communities’ • Obj. 11. Reduce the risk of death & illness associated with severe weather events & CC… increase preparedness & resilience to impacts on public health… • Obj. 12. Ensure continuity of services & resilient assets / estates, adapt to expected increased demand from severe weather-related events… NAP Steering Group – PHE, SDU, NHS England, Defra, EA

Health Co-benefits • Lancet co-benefits research, Nov 2009, LSHTM • Health benefits of low carbon actions in transport, built environment, food and agriculture, both in the UK and the developing world • Eg Health benefits from low car use – increased active transport – reduce obesity, – reduce urban pollution, – reduce road traffic accidents. – ‘Greener’ fuels also lead to reduced indoor and outdoor air pollution. • Currently in WHO European region 800, 000 deaths/yr outdoor air pollution 1. 5 million from indoor air pollution 1. 9 million from physical inactivity 2. 6 million from obesity • WHO ‘Health in the Green Economy’ series Lower carbon saves lives! – and money!

International collaboration ‘Climate Change is Global’ • WHO Resolution on Climate Change and Health (61. 12), 2008. • Commonwealth Ministers agreement to cooperate on climate change and health. WHA, May 2008 • UK co-chaired the WHO (Europe) Climate Change Task Force, to develop a Framework for Action on Climate Change and Health. • WHO European Environment and Health 5 th Ministerial Conference, Parma, 2010 • DH chairs the WHO Euro Working Group on Health Impacts of Climate Change (HIC)

Greening Healthcare • Procurement is 60% of the NHS’s carbon footprint – Procurement for Carbon Reduction (P 4 CR) – Sustainable messaging in contracts ‘vanilla clauses’ – WHO looking at P 4 CR use internationally / Pharma • SD strategy – Health, Public Health and Social Care – Jan 2014 • UNFCCC, IPCC – Health voice • WHO Euro ‘ 7 countries pilot’ • MDGs – post-2015 SDGs www. sdu. nhs. uk

Some Levers for Action • National: - Health & Social Care Act 2012 - Climate Change Act 2008: Adaptation Reporting Power -SDU to report for health and social care sector - Scrutiny by Adaptation Sub Committee, reporting 2015 - Civil Contingencies Act 2004 - National Planning Policy Framework - Building Regulations - Flood & Water Management Act 2010 Local: - PHOF – SDMP indicator, - H&WBs, JSNAs, - Local Health Resilience Partnerships - Local Resilience Forums - Local Adaptation Plans - Local Flood risk mapping and strategies - Built environment / town planning Pivotal role played by councils

Sustainability is everyone’s business Think SD! - Supports growth, saves lives, improves wellbeing • Raise awareness and communicate case for action. – Public engagement, transformational behaviour change. • Current financial situation – green growth – Financial savings from sustainable ways of working and sustainable models of care – (eg Nephrology, TLC, Nottingham – see www. sdu. nhs. uk for examples) • Get involved – Student parliaments – WHO Youth Networks & policy engagement It’s Your Future!

Thank you Dr Louise Newport SD, Cimate change & extreme weather Department of Health London