Management and Executives
Our fate is in your hands
How Will Climate Change Affect The UK Health System?
The climate and biodiversity crises are health crises. Tens of thousands are dying in the UK every year due to pollution and climate change, with thousands more requiring healthcare services and increasing the demand on the system.
Additionally, floods and heatwaves are causing infrastructure damage to the UK, causing massive disruption to the healthcare system as seen in the 2022 heatwave, where the IT system in Guy's and St Thomas' hospital cost £1.4 million and caused widespread disruption. Many hospitals are close to flood risk areas, that may not survive rising sea levels.
Additionally, the world will likely experience around 3 billion refugees due to climate change by 2050, along with significant food shortages. Should climate change failed to be addressed, this will be catastrophic for the UK health service as it would not withstand the health inequalities and increased communicable disease and pandemics that are associated with such a mass movement of people.
How is The Health System Affecting Climate Change?
If the global health sector was a country, it would be the 5th largest emitter on the planet.
Every activity carried out in the health system has an environmental impact, including transport, procurement, waste management, energy use and food. These also have health impacts, such as the air pollution generated by transport or the negative health effects of excessive red meat consumption, all of which further exacerbate the workload of the healthcare system.
Highest Impact Actions for Managers and Executives
Embed climate change and healthcare sustainability into ALL governance meetings
Support and invest in projects that will reduce the environmental impact of the hospital and increase biodiversity e.g. switch to a Power Purchase Agreement, install solar panels, No Mow May
Encourage engagement and education of both staff and patients on the relationship between climate change and health, and the steps that people can take to reduce their carbon footprint, improve their health and keep themselves safe during future extreme weather events
A Plea to Managers
Throughout the whole of human history, there has never been a more pivotal moment where those in power will decide the fate of humanity and thousands of other species across the world. You are in that position of power and meaningful change cannot happen without your support and influence.
We are already seeing the devastation that climate change is causing due to failures of leadership over the last 50 years and now is the final chance to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. Any service improvements you make without addressing the climate crisis will be meaningless in a handful of years.
The solutions to the climate crisis will improve human health and reduce the burden on the health service - eating less meat and dairy, encouraging active travel and reducing waste.
Action has to happen now, not tomorrow, and the future of the planet rests on the shoulders of those in power. Ask yourself, in 10 years time, will you be able to tell your children that whilst you had the opportunity, you did everything you could to fight to save the world?