Guest blog by Dr Jan Maskell
As a Sustainability Consultant, I work with healthcare professionals helping them to appreciate their role in tackling climate change. One resource when preparing to support them is The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. The 2022 report is sub-titled ‘health at the mercy of fossil fuels’ - summing up the current situation for many and suggesting an alternative framing from a focus on climate to a focus on health. Here are its key messages:
- days of extreme heat have increased in frequency and intensity due to climate change, exposing vulnerable populations to 3.7 billion more person-days of heatwaves in 2021 than annually in 1986–2005
- the changing climate is increasing the spread of infectious diseases, with a higher risk of emerging diseases and co-epidemics
- the energy sector which is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. An increase in energy demand of 59% increased total energy sector emissions to record high levels in 2021, with many countries reverting to using coal to generate electricity with the subsequent effect on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and air quality
- traditional biomass accounts for 31% of the energy consumed in the domestic sector globally, with 96% of that in low Human Development Index countries, resulting in the air in people’s homes in 62 countries exceeding WHO guidelines for safe concentrations of small particulate air pollution (PM2.5) in 2020, by 30-fold on average
- climate related crop failures and supply chain issues due to droughts and floods have led to more people reporting moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy and cost-of-living increases have worsened this situation with impacts on international agricultural production and delivery
- the largest oil and gas companies will exceed their share emissions compatible with the 1.5°C climate target in 2040, making the goals of the Paris Agreement unattainable.
So what?
The effects of these are to:
- put pressure on individuals, through injury and mental health impacts and on already strained health care systems
- lose more labour hours due to heat exposure
- cause damage worth US$253 billion in 2021, particularly burdening people in low income countries in which almost none of the losses were insured
- increase undernourishment
- compound other co-existing crises.
As the need for healthcare increases, health systems worldwide are weakened, plus energy and cost-of-living increases threaten to worsen energy poverty.
A health-centred response
What difference would it make if we reframe the perspective from a ‘climate-crisis’ to a ‘health-crisis’? As was seen in the COVID-19 pandemic, a health crisis has more discernible, personal impacts. With a further 0.4°C global temperature rise probably unavoidable, accelerated mitigation and adaptation is more urgent than ever. Concentrating on the health implications of actions would bring to the fore the need to:
- transition rapidly to a clean, renewable energy supply to avert the most catastrophic climate change impacts, with co-benefits of improving energy security, supporting economic recovery, better jobs, cleaner air preventing the 1.2 million annual deaths resulting from exposure to fossil fuel derived ambient PM2.5, and a path for a green COVID-19 recovery
- promote active forms of travel, with resulting health benefits of walking and cycling
- design buildings and infrastructure with health impacts in mind – reducing the need for air conditioning through orientation and shading, and the need for heating through insulation, lower energy demand and more community energy systems
- implement nature-based solutions and increased access to green spaces
- accelerate the transition to balanced and more plant-based diets to prevent up to 11.5 million diet related deaths annually, reduce the 55% of agricultural sector emissions from red meat and milk production, and substantially reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases.
Putting human health at the centre of an aligned response, creating resilient health, food and energy systems could represent the promise of securing a healthier, safer future for all.
Dr Jan Maskell is an Occupational Psychologist and Sustainability Consultant, helping organisations to implement Environmental Management Systems and individuals to move to a more sustainable lifestyle compatible with 1.5°C. Jan is also Education Director for Scientists for Global Responsibility who have developed 1.5°C compatible living behaviour targets. Visit the SGR website and sign up.