5833 signers since Oct '08
Calling all health professionals
You almost certainly know that climate change is the biggest threat of the 21st century to the health of both rich and poor. So man made global warming is a direct health threat to our patients.
But did you also know that tackling climate change could bring substantial benefits to the health of both rich and poor? In essence WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE CLIMATE IS GOOD FOR HEALTH.
We, the Climate and Health Council, take the firm stance that health professionals – doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, all of us – can, should, and must take meaningful action on climate change. After the failure of the COP15 in Copenhagen in December 2009, this has become EVEN MORE URGENT. Protecting public health is our duty in society. It is what we do best. It is what brings us together as a profession in our clinic, our surgeries, our hospitals, or wherever we may be.
Our profession is the most respected, trusted and listened to of all. Fifty years ago the health profession in the UK mounted a fierce campaign against tobacco smoking, which – eventually - led to the raft of antismoking legislation now in place across the globe. Thirty years ago health professionals from both sides of the Cold War united against the threat of nuclear war, and their message reverberated throughout the entire world.
Today, the greatest threat to humanity has emerged. This is our time and this is our watch. We must, without fail, take up our responsibility and unite against the global and national public health threat of climate change. It is our duty to make clear our stance on climate change, and make clear our demands of government and global institutions in order that we fulfill our vocation and protect public health.
The Climate and Health Council has a board of senior health professionals, committed to these principles and dedicated to health professional advocacy against climate change. In addition, we have just formed an international group, comprising physicians and public health doctors around the globe.
What does the Council do?
To achieve its aim, the Council’s members take action in five main ways. We
- Inform about issues related to climate change and global health (see our Get Informed section for scientific argument on the climate and health relationship)
- Through our own carbon reducing actions, and through influencing our organisations to reduce carbon (see England NHS carbon reduction strategy) offer personal leadership.
- Mobilise health professionals into an international movement of advocates – have you signed our Pledge on Climate Change and Health?
- Innovate by developing and supporting new programmes – check out our event and programme archive
- Disseminate key information to those in a position to help – check out our Get More Involved section
Prescription for a Healthy Planet
Sign up to Prescription for a Healthy Planet. This campaign is led by the Health and Environment Alliance and Health Care without Harm. The Climate and Health Council is a founder signatory of the Prescription.
The Health Practitioners Guide to Climate Change: Diagnosis and Cure
'The Health Practitioners Guide to Climate Change: Diagnosis and Cure' has just been published by Earthscan (ISBN 978-1-84407-729-8).
The time for action is now
'The time for action is now' [ppt, 4 MB] is an up-to-date slide set, covering the basic science of climate change, health effects, potential health benefits of appropriate action, international action - Contraction and Convergence, and specific actions for health professionals.
Slide index:
- SLIDES 1-20 The Basic Science of Climate Change
- SLIDES 21-46 Health Consequences
- SLIDES 47-54 Potential Health Benefits of Appropriate Action
- SLIDES 55-59 International action - Contraction and Convergence
- SLIDES 60-79 Specific actions Health professionals can take
Delhi Declaration on Health and Climate
The World Medical Association, representing almost a hundred Medical Associations across the world, has adopted the Delhi Declaration on Health and Climate.
