The perfect storm: climate change and its health consequences
- Abstract
March 30 saw the launch of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change—a coalition of major UK health institutions and The Lancet, who have come together to raise awareness in the UK of the health risks posed by climate change. We are united by a shared understanding that climate change threatens the wellbeing of the population, and the Alliance exists to ensure a robust policy response to this threat.At a media briefing on March 24, David Richmond, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (one of the Alliance members), remarked “It makes sense to strive to understand climate change and educate people. Some things that we can do to positively affect the climate—ie, cycling to reduce pollution—will also have benefits on health, such as reducing obesity.” Myles Allen, head of Oxford University’s Climate Dynamics group, mentioned the risks from extreme weather events, such as flooding and heatwaves, which are becoming more frequent as the climate changes, and noted that heatwaves have been significantly linked with mortality.The Alliance states that the UK National Health Service needs to be prepared for possible threats to health from climate problems, such as storms and floods, and ensure that public infrastructure is resilient to the risks from climate change. The Alliance is also looking to Jeremy Hunt, the UK Health Minister, to recognise the importance of tackling climate change, act as a leader for the promotion of clean air, active transport, and healthy diet, and to phase out the use of coal-fired power by 2025.
- Resource Type
- Opinion/editorial
- Author
- The Lancet
- Publication
- The Lancet
- Volume
- 387
- Issue
- 10026
- Pages
- 1348
- Date
- April 2, 2016
- DOI
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30117-9
- Organization Type
- Academic
- Health and Human Impact
- Overview/general
- Climate and Environmental Impact
- Overview/general
- Emission Source
- Overview/general
- Fossil Fuel
- Overview/general
- Solution
- Climate mitigation/GHG reduction
- Region
- International
- Other
- Advocacy