Climate Chaos and Health Jenny Griffiths

STRUCTURE OF SESSION The ‘Carbon Test’ – in twos Presentation Group work on action planning Visioning – what will life be like in a not-very-distant two tonne future?

The situation we’re in Population growth –2.5 billion in 1953, 6.7 billion now, 8 billion 2028, 9 billion 2050 Rampant materialism in the ‘developed’ world Gross inequalities –An elite population of 1.2 billion Collapsing ecosystems –The 6 th mass extinction of life on earth Accelerating climate change

Climate change: A public health imperative Joint statement to health leaders from 19 organisations We believe that climate change is the public health challenge of the 21 st century and that, unless decisive action is taken now, the world will face global public health and environmental catastrophe.

Climate change threatens the basic elements of live Access to water Food production –Crop failure – human nutrition Human movement –Armed conflict, potentially huge population displacement More obvious health impacts –Heat-related problems, worsening air quality, flooding and extreme weather events

Worse than we thought a year ago Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Reports 2007 James Hansen 350 ppm – 385 in 2008 Very close to 2 degrees centigrade of global warming –Major ecosystems begin collapsing –Threshold for dangerous climate change We have 5-10 years to get control

Health benefits of tackling climate change It’s all joined up! –Active travel –Improved food –More urban green space –More insulation in homes –Reduced material consumption For example...

Active travel – health benefits More walking, cycling and less car use – reduce CO2 emissions Lower BP, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer Reduce road traffic accidents Less air pollution – less respiratory disease Improve mental well-being

A low-carbon, healthy diet Less processed food (less CO2) –Less saturated fat, sugar and salt –Reduce obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colon and breast cancers Less meat and more vegetables –Reduce CO2 and methane, improve health Local food – reduce food miles –Food transportation causes CO2, air pollution, congestion and accidents

Carbon emissions 1 UK approx. 10 tonnes per capita USA 20 tonnes China 3-4 tonnes India 1 tonne World average 4 tonnes Need to get down to 2 tonnes

Carbon emissions 2 Each of the following is one quarter –Energy in homes and workplaces –Transport (car and air especially) –Food – production, transportation and retail –Consumption of all other goods and services (excluding food) Half is personal travel and household energy

NHS carbon emissions NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy First ever NHS carbon footprint 18 million tonnes of CO2 p.a. 30% of total public sector emissions –22% is building energy use –18% is travel (staff, patients, visitors) –59% procurement

WHAT CAN WE DO? Be the change you want to see in the world Mahatma Gandhi

YOU can make a real difference Own carbon emissions – each of the 4 main areas – 20% reduction is easy Act in our local community Look at Transition Towns ideas Get involved with groups Community development! Join advocacy groups

Join up the agendas Link advice on carbon emissions into health programmes concerning: –Obesity –Healthy eating –Exercise Take the messages into the community within your daily work Personal advice from health practitioners is respected

It’s all joined up contd. Mental health promotion and nature Healthy schools and eco-schools You will have other ideas for making connections

Sustainable communities “ A community which has available to it locally all the essential elements of life, which is resilient and which lives within its fair share of the earth’s natural resources ”

Get into planning systems Work with community groups and with local authority planners Local food supply Accessible public services, food shops and recreation Green spaces and access to nature Public transport, pavements and paths, cycle lanes

Behaviour change “ I will if you will” (Sustainable Consumption Roundtable Report) Fear...Social norms... Habit No champions, no change Discursive social change – social exploration of new alternatives Successful initiatives, e.g. Global Action Plan Eco-Teams (groups of households) Sustrans personal travel planning

NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy Champions everywhere Board level commitment Staff group and champions – wear the tee-shirt! Measurement – carbon audits Energy, travel and food – more important than recycling

Travel planning Reduce the need to travel –Teleconferencing and videoconferencing to become the norm Low-carbon travel –Real achievements at several Trusts, e.g. Addenbrooke’s, Plymouth NHS Trust Sharing cars

Shout about your achievements Society expects the NHS and local government to lead the way Corporate social responsibility Carbon governance alongside financial and clinical governance Carbon-proof policies Cross-cutting issue like equalities and diversity Include in all documents, annual report

Advocacy Copenhagen end 2009 – UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Health groups –Climate and Health Council –UK Public Health Association –Health and Sustainability Network WWF, Greenpeace etc.

Conclusion A healthy, sustainable, low-carbon future is the only future there is We have little time to prevent unmanageable climate change Sustainable development is about the determinants of health THIS IS CORE BUSINESS