A unique online resource packed with information on the impact of climate change on people’s health is being launched today on World Patient Safety Day (Tuesday 17 September).
Our Health, Our Planet brings together hundreds of resources with the aim of raising greater awareness of the threat of climate change to people’s health and steps they can take to minimise it.
The website aims to explain how people and patients in the UK are already being affected by climate change in an accessible and easy to understand format.
It also aims to explain what healthcare professionals and their patients can do to play their part in alleviating the climate crisis whilst highlighting future health threat from a changing climate.
Dr Matt Lee, sustainability lead for the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK), is the driving force behind Our Health, Our Planet.
He said: “Climate change is widely considered to be the greatest threat to global health so it’s absolutely vital we all play our part, and no action is too small to make a difference.
“Patient health is being compromised because of climate change and our inaction about it.
“We’re experiencing more frequent and intensive weather and climate events, which directly and indirectly affect people’s health, increasing the risk of public health emergencies, the spread of disease, hospital admissions and deaths.
“We have 1.6 million health workers in the UK, 68 million people who use the health service, and 600 million healthcare interactions every year.
Public health
“Health professionals are excellent and trusted science communicators and we hope Our Health, Our Planet can support them and empower patients to have more conversations about how climate change is affecting health in the UK.
“By working together, the health system can play a key role in alleviating the climate crisis and its impact on public health.
“The highest impact actions people can take are thinking about where their finances are, switching their energy to a renewable supplier, eating less meat and dairy, more active and green travel, and buying local and low-carbon products.”
Our Health, Our Planet
Our Health, Our Planet is believed to be the largest resource of its kind in the UK and aims to provide accessible information about climate change, its health impact, and what we can do to tackle it.
It includes information on how climate change affects different health specialities, professions, and health conditions.
The resource is supported by DAUK, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, and Greener Practice, among other groups.
It is being launched on World Patient Safety Day (Tuesday 17 September) with a free online event and spaces are available now to book.
The launch will include a pre-recorded address from Professor Hugh Montgomery, director of the Centre for Human Health and Performance at University College London. Dr Lee and colleagues will then explore the website, its features, and explain how people can get involved and help to use the healthcare system to tackle change.
Climate crisis
Dr Lee said: “The climate crisis is a health crisis and action to mitigate and alleviate its impact must be now.
“Our Health, Our Planet aims to give health professionals and health care users – everyone – the information they need to act and together, we can secure a safe and liveable future.”
Support the work of DAUK, sign up as a member.
