Actions to Prevent and Prepare for Climate Crisis

Reducing our contribution to the climate crisis and creating resilience to respond to the worst impacts of a warming climate is an opportunity to protect health. Luckily there are lots of actions we can take that not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also address public health challenges.

Read through the sections below to find out more about the actions we can take.

Transportation

According to the Department for Transport, 28% of UK greenhouse gas emissions are caused by transportation. Our transport system is largely road-travel dependent which presents two health related issues: lack of physical activity and air pollution.

Physical inactivity directly contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK and air pollution causes an extra 28,000 to 36,000 UK deaths a year (Public Health England). If healthcare professionals can help people undertake more journeys by foot, bicycle or public transport then we can reduce green house gas emissions, increase levels of physical activity and reduce air pollution.

Housing

The Climate Change Committee states that 14% of UK greenhouse gas emissions comes from domestic household use and the majority of that is from heating our houses. Inefficient energy use in homes and rising energy prices are causing significant issues with maintaining suitable temperatures in houses. The temperature of housing is very important for health. Cold homes are recognised as a source of both physical and mental ill health increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, respiratory illness, falls and accidents. Whereas homes that are too hot pose a significant risk to older people, very young children and those with chronic health conditions. If healthcare professionals can encourage people to check the temperature in their homes and where possible adjust the temperature to be within a suitable range we can help address some of these health issues.

Food

Our current food system is a major contributor to global temperature rise, deforestation, biodiversity loss, fresh water over extraction, as well as air and plastic pollution. This is also combined with the way we eat which is causing significant morbidity and mortality. Poor diets are increasing the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain cancers. This unhealthy eating is costing the UK an estimated £268 billion a year (Food and Farming Commission).

The foods that are causing this poor diet tend to also be foods that are bad for the climate in terms of how much pollution and carbon emissions they produce and the amount of land and water required to produce them. Diets high in plant-based foods and low in animal-based ones are not only better for the environment but also for our health. If healthcare professionals can support people to adopt a balanced, sustainable diet and promote wider changes to our food system we could reduce the impact on both the environment and health from poor diets. Resources such as the Eatwell Guide can help support people with these goals.

Green spaces

Exposure to green spaces has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is also evidence to suggest that engaging in physical activity in a green or natural environment, known as green exercise, provides additional benefits to people’s overall wellbeing. Green spaces can also bring communities together, reduce loneliness and mitigate the negative effects of air pollution, excessive noise, heat and flooding. If healthcare professional can promote the protection of green spaces, and implement nature based interventions for health such as green walking for mental health of green social prescribing, we can improve the health of people and the planet.

Social Inequalities

There is a close relation between the climate crisis and social injustice. Deprived areas have the poorest air quality and people from deprived areas face a disproportionately higher flood risk than those in wealthy areas. There is also the factor that the climate crisis impacts people differently depending on their susceptibility, risk and their ability to cope. For example, elderly populations, people living in care homes and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to suffer from the effects of extreme heat and colds. Fuel poverty and poor housing can exacerbate these effects. If healthcare professionals act on the climate crisis in a way that addresses social inequalities, we can ensure that the costs of climate action are not unfairly borne by those with lower incomes or other social disadvantages.