It is a hot and dry summer here in the UK. We have had frequent heat health alerts and most of England and Wales is officially in drought. Both the UK and our European neighbours have experienced significant wildfires. It’s challenging for services and for individuals, physically, practically and psychologically. We need to look after ourselves and each other in these moments and also look at how we can learn, prevent and adapt. Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Policy brief: Mental health and extreme heat

Given the ways that extreme heat impacts our mental health, including through sleep disruption, how can we protect our mental health? Among people living with mental health conditions, extreme heat has been shown to increase mortality, rates of hospital admission and suicide risk.

A collaboration made up of United for Global Mental Health, Climate Cares (at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London) and SPARK Lab NYC (at Columbia University) recently launched a policy brief focused on mental health and extreme heat.

The brief looks at how mental health is currently covered in heat action plans and gives recommendations for policymakers working on plans to better consider mental health. Unusually and usefully, it gives some suggested text to consider including in plans.

The brief also features six case studies. These include an example from Canada, where training was designed and delivered for frontline mental health workers, to support them in preventing and responding to heat-related illness in people in their care.

• Protecting mental health from extreme heat (PDF)

• Recording of the webinar to mark the publication of the policy brief

Research: An organising framework for decarbonising healthcare

Research published in BMJ Open has resulted in an “organising framework for healthcare decarbonisation research”. The authors’ starting point is that decarbonisation activities tend to be categorised by source of emissions or broad themes. Their framework aims to support coordination, funding and putting research into policy and practice.

The framework has six high-level themes of its own: Natural resource use and sources of carbon; Healthcare settings and workflows; Solutions; Stakeholders; Organisational levers for change; and Scientific measurement and theory (spot the initials: NHS-SOS).

It was developed through an exploratory study of research questions. The authors say that they, “envisage this framework being used in organising co-production processes around the prioritisation, design, conduct, dissemination and uptake of research to advance the decarbonisation of the NHS in England”, but that it could also be adapted for other health systems.

• Prototype of an organising framework for healthcare decarbonisation research

Guidance: Turn it off when not in use (operating theatre edition)

A lot of energy is used to power the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in operating theatres. If these were switched off or put into a low-power mode when theatres are not in use, it would save energy, money and emissions.

That’s a lay summary of the recent NHS Estates Technical Bulletin (NETB)! It is, of course, a bit more complicated than that. There are important considerations around making sure the systems can be powered up again ready for use, sometimes in emergency situations.

The NETB has got you (and your estates team) covered, with a step-by-step guide to working out and implementing the best strategy for your site. Multiple savings await...

• NHS Estates Technical Bulletin: Energy efficiency through controlling theatre ventilation

Framework: Regulation for greener pharmaceuticals

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a framework to support regulators to enable the decarbonisation of the pharmaceutical industry. No small task! The lifecycle of each product includes sourcing raw materials, manufacturing active ingredients and packaging, moving the products from where they are made to where they are needed and disposal.

The framework aims to show how existing tools can support greener pathways, while ensuring safety, efficacy and equitable access. There are examples of some tools, such as binding regulatory measures, nonbinding regulatory guidance and incentivisation mechanisms.

• Global framework to help regulators advance greener pharmaceuticals

Funding awarded: First NIHR decarbonisation grantees

If you’ve been following the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funding programme for decarbonising health and social care since it launched in 2024, you’ll be as interested as I am to see the first five projects receive their awards. Congratulations to you all!

• First studies funded under initiative to decarbonise health and social care

• Related press release from Lancaster University

• Related press release from Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Grant: Support for sustainable nursing practice

The Royal College of Nursing Foundation has partnered with the General Nursing Council Trust for England and Wales to fund a nurse-led research study on climate change.

Nurse researchers in England or Wales can apply to conduct research exploring nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards climate change and adaptations in practice.

Appy by 4th September for funding up to £60,000. (Let me know if you’re successful!)

• A greener and sustainable nursing practice grant

Opportunity: Propose an event for the COP31 Health Pavilion

The COP31 United Nations climate conference will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.

WHO has opened a call for event proposals, to be held at the COP31 Health Pavilion (within the blue zone of COP31).

Deadline for proposal submissions is 12th September.

• Call for event proposals for COP31 Health Pavilion

Launch event: Lancet Countdown for cities in Europe

The 2026 Europe Cities Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change will be published in September.

As cities are where most of the population of Europe lives and where most of its energy is needed, cities are a key part of climate mitigation and adaptation – and also where many of the related health impacts are felt. This report will look at what cities in the European region are doing in terms of climate change and health.

The report is being launched in Barcelona and online, on 10th September.

• Launch of Lancet Countdown Europe Cities Report

Webinar: Decarbonising health and social care locally

The Local Government Association (LGA) is hosting a webinar entitled, Turning ambition into action: Decarbonising health and social care locally.

It’s for people working within local government (in the UK), in health, public health, social care, sustainability, climate, commissioning or strategy roles.

It’s on Wednesday 16th September, 10-11.30am.

• Webinar: Decarbonising health and social care locally

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Sustainability lead manager. Apply today (11th August)!

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) is recruiting a Food commitments manager (based in the US) to work on food initiatives in healthcare. Apply by 25th August.

Central London Community Health Trust is recruiting a Sustainability data analyst. Apply by 31st August.

Beautiful job at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare – either a Nature recovery ranger or a Senior nature recovery ranger, to work across Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. Apply by 31st August.

• Sustainability lead manager

• Food commitments manager

• Sustainability data analyst

• (Senior) Nature recovery ranger

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / how thinking hyperlocally can help you manage climate anxiety (by ) / and recognising the Strait of Hormuz as an ecological corridor.

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Research: Measuring and making it matter

An article by the Greener NHS Team at NHS England, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, gives an update on the carbon footprint assessment of the NHS in England. Direct emissions have decreased 14% since 2019/20.

It’s interesting to look at how emissions are measured now and how analysis has changed over time. The authors say the evolution enables, “more detailed and actionable insights”.

On the subject of actionable insights, a paper published in the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care details the development of criteria through which emissions could be incorporated into decision-making. In the Dutch context of the article, this is around reimbursement or inclusion in clinical guidelines.

The National Health Care Institute in the Netherlands has decided to test the criteria in a three-year experiment. The authors acknowledge limitations and challenges, but it’s a really interesting step.

• Five years of Greener NHS: improved carbon footprint assessment of the NHS

• Incorporating climate impact in health care decisions

Viewpoint: Mental health interventions for climate distress in young people

A viewpoint article published in the June edition of The Lancet Planetary Health gives an overview of potential mental health care for young people impacted by climate distress. The term climate distress is used to cover experiences often described in terms such as climate anxiety, eco-anxiety and eco-grief.

The authors look at how different therapeutic strategies can be applied in the context of climate change and the strengths and limitations of these strategies. They are categorised as primary prevention (resilience building), secondary prevention (early intervention), and tertiary prevention (clinical treatment).

A second article, this time in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, mapped temperature against instances of children and young people (up to 24) in Australia being admitted to hospital with mental health problems. It found higher temperatures were associated with increased admissions.

• Therapeutic strategies to manage climate distress among young people

• Heat exposure and hospital admissions for mental health disorders

Guidance: Decarbonising care for urinary tract stones

Getting it right first time (GIRFT) has published its third ‘greener pathways’ guide. It is focused on reducing the carbon footprint of care for urinary tract stones, including kidney stones.

The guide features 18 key recommendations, across prevention, diagnosis, treatment, surgery and outpatient management. As is often the case, implementing the recommendations would usually not only reduce carbon but also improve patient experience and reduce costs.

• GIRFT guide on decarbonising the patient pathway for urinary tract stones

Resource: Setting decarbonisation targets for healthcare

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe has published a handbook for healthcare leaders to support setting targets for reducing carbon emissions in healthcare.

The handbook aims to answer questions such as which emissions to include and how ambitious credible targets should be.

It is an accompanying resource to HCWH Europe’s existing Healthcare decarbonisation toolkit.

• Healthcare leaders’ handbook for setting decarbonisation targets

• Healthcare decarbonisation toolkit

Guidance: Heat-health action plans

The World Health Organization (WHO) European Region published the second edition of its guidance on heat-health action plans in June. The first edition was published in 2008, and we’ve gained a lot of evidence and experience of dealing with heat and health since then.

The guidance supports the design and delivery of heat-health action plans through “preparedness, activation and response during extreme heat events, and between-seasons learning and improvement”.

The authors encourage localising the content, and there are eight core elements, including heat-health warning systems, populations at increased risk, communication, health system resilience, and reducing heat exposure.

In the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) runs a heat-health alert system and there are numerous related resources (e.g. action cards for health and social care providers).

• Guidance: heat-health action plans

• UKHSA heat-health alert system

News coverage: Heat hits health services

The UK and much of the European region experienced a serious heatwave in June. As well as the coverage of heat-health alerts, it was interesting to see reporting on the strain it put on health services. I’ve picked out a few examples, but there were more to choose from.

Incidents fell broadly into two categories. One was systems failure, for example, Norwich and Norfolk University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had to shut down its MRI scanners, as a result of their cooling systems failing. Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth declared a critical incident after “several chiller units supporting critical infrastructure failed”.

The other category was increased demand. The London Ambulance Service told the Guardian newspaper that on one day it saw “a 50% increase in life-threatening emergency calls compared with a typical Wednesday in June, with the number of cardiac arrests up 30%”. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust declared a critical incident due to “severe and sustained pressure” on services.

Some secondary effects were also visible, including higher levels of air pollution and a major wildfire near Greater Manchester. Of note, in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, there was a spike in drownings, likely due to cold-water shock.

• Cancelled MRI appointments in Norfolk

• Critical incident declared at hospital in Portsmouth

• Critical incident declared at hospital in Nottingham

• Wildfire on moorland near Greater Manchester

• Drowning deaths soar in France

Guidance: PPE and heat stress

The UKHSA and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released “an urgent public health message” during the recent heatwave. It explained the risk of heat stress for people working in health and care, when using personal protective equipment (PPE) in hot weather.

Although the immediate heatwave has passed, it’s worth consulting in order to prepare for the next time around (which might be now, depending where you are).

• Guidance on PPE and heat stress risk

Webinar: Education for sustainable healthcare

Greener Practice is hosting a webinar on Tuesday 21st July, 1-2pm (UK) with the authors of Education for sustainable healthcare: Stories, strategies and solutions.

It is an open access e-book, which brings together perspectives and experience from educators in UK medical schools, to support the embedding of sustainable healthcare in medical curricula.

• Webinar: Education for sustainable healthcare

• E-book: Education for sustainable healthcare: Stories, strategies and solutions

Online events: CSH networks

If you’ve not already found the online networks run by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) in the UK, then let me point you in that direction! This month, there are a few interesting online events being hosted by the networks.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 8th July, 7-8pm (UK), the occupational therapy sustainability network is hosting a talk by Sally Macleod on human nature connectedness.

On Monday 13th July, 12.30-1.30pm (UK), the palliative care sustainability network is meeting to hear about sustainability project examples, including from teams involved in the Greener Palliative Care Award.

On Thursday 23rd July, 2-2.50pm (UK), the kidney care sustainability network is hosting Dr Joachim Beige, a nephrologist in Germany. Dr Beige will be presenting on carbon footprint benchmarking in haemodialysis and the role of digital tools.

• Event: Occupational therapy sustainability network meeting

• Event: Palliative care sustainability network meeting

• Event: Kidney care sustainability network meeting

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Wellcome is recruiting a Senior research manager for its climate and health team and a Head of policy – climate and health. Apply by 12th July.

NTW Solutions Ltd (working across Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust) is recruiting a Decarbonisation manager. Apply by 15th July.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is recruiting a Sustainability co-ordinator. Apply by 28th July.

• Senior research manager

• Head of policy – climate and health

• Decarbonisation manager

• Sustainability co-ordinator

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / where I saw great skua chicks last month / and I’m enjoying the lightsome manifesto by .

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Research: Higher temperatures associated with hypoglycaemia

A research team used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data from 679 people with type 1 diabetes in Sussex, England, to look at the association between higher temperatures and risk of hypoglycaemia (dangerously low blood glucose levels).

They analysed almost 33 million glucose readings taken during the period 2017 to 2024, against the outdoor temperature at people’s home addresses. They found higher temperatures were associated with an increased short-term risk of hypoglycaemia. The increased risk was more pronounced at higher temperatures.

The authors say there should be clearer guidance on how to adjust insulin during periods of hot weather.

• Warmer temperatures increase risk of hypoglycemia for people with type 1 diabetes

• Original article in Diabetes Care journal

Database: The Lancet MedZero

Following a public launch in May, The Lancet MedZero website is now officially live.

It’s an ambitious project, bringing together carbon data for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and more, aiming to support decisions about sustainable healthcare. Have you had a look? See if you can find the carbon footprints of anything you use regularly.

The team behind the platform also welcomes feedback and collaboration, “Contributions from across the community aren’t just welcome, they are essential. Data sets, methods, or analytical improvements that can strengthen the platform [are] central to its improvement strategy.”

• The Lancet MedZero

Report: Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health

The Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health published a ‘Call to Action’ report in May, calling on decision-makers, “to take forward climate action that delivers benefits for human health, prioritizing the most vulnerable to climate change and reducing health inequity across generations”.

The report includes 17 recommendations, organised under four domains: confronting climate change as a catastrophic threat to human health and social stability; transforming health systems for people and climate; scaling up local, community-based solutions for climate and health; and reforming economic, financial, and regulatory systems to drive climate-health progress.

(We can’t all do all the things. Where does your work or ambition fit into these domains?)

• Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health: Call to Action

Guidance: NHS England carbon guidance for suppliers

Earlier today, NHS England published its guidance for suppliers on requirements relating to the net zero supplier roadmap.

From April 2027, there will be new requirements for suppliers to report targets and emissions and publish a carbon reduction plan.

As well as the published guidance, two webinars will be held this month to explain the new requirements for suppliers.

• 2027 NHS carbon reduction plan requirements

• Net zero supplier roadmap webinars

Report: Vector-borne disease surveillance

In May, the UK government published its first annual One Health Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance report.

I find the work that goes into the surveillance of mosquitoes, ticks and other ‘vectors’ quite fascinating. Although locally acquired mosquito-borne infections are not a problem in the UK at the moment, there is clearly a growing risk as the climate changes and outbreaks move north in mainland Europe.

Professor Lea Berrang-Ford, Deputy Director, Centre for Climate & Health Security, at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said, “The overall risk to the public from vector-borne diseases in England remains low, but the findings of this report demonstrate how that risk picture is changing due to factors including climate change, urbanisation and the globalisation of trade and travel.”

Last week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published its latest maps on the distribution of mosquitoes and other vectors.

• One Health Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance report

• ECDC maps distribution of disease vectors across Europe

Toolkit: Local authority risk and adaptation

In May, the UKHSA published its local authority risk and adaptation (LARA) toolkit: heat edition.

It aims to help each local council understand how prepared it is for heat-related risks to health, identify areas for improvement, plan actions and monitor progress. It covers areas including care settings, schools, homelessness and infrastructure.

• Local authority risk and adaptation toolkit: heat edition

Policy brief: The arts, health and climate change

I recently attended the online launch of a new policy brief from the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and Jameel Arts & Health Lab. Its title is The role of the arts and culture in addressing the health impacts of climate change.

The publication brings together evidence from a rapid review and an international survey, with interesting case studies. There was a lot of beautiful, lively energy in the chat at the event, which is always inspiring.

Dr Gundo Weiler, Director, Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO Europe, said at the launch, “Although arts, culture and the creative industries alone will certainly not prevent climate change, the journey towards mitigating and adapting to the health impacts of climate change is unthinkable without them. […] They translate complex science into felt experience, they build the social cohesion and collective agency that knowledge alone can’t generate. And crucially they help communities imagine different futures.”

• Role of the arts and culture in addressing the health impacts of climate change

• Recording of webinar launching the policy brief

Investigation: Flood-related closures in NHS hospitals

UK climate news website Carbon Brief submitted freedom of information (FOI) requests to 162 NHS trusts asking about flood-related shutdowns. In the 148 trusts that responded, there were 67 incidents reported, since 2021, of hospital wards, departments and other sites having to close or move due to weather-related flooding.

The closures included A&E departments, hospital wards, theatres and maternity units. Carbon Brief highlights that the numbers are likely an underestimate, given that some trusts did not respond and others could not provide relevant information.

The examples given are significant, from a hospital closing entirely for two days, to a surgical theatre closing for two weeks.

• Floods have forced at least 67 closures at NHS hospitals since 2021

Webinar: Environment, equity and resilience in sustainable global health

This online event hosted by Brighton and Sussex Medical School looks good.

Chaired by Prof Mahmood Bhutta, it “brings together experts from policy, research, and frontline practice to explore how healthcare systems globally can evolve sustainably while strengthening resilience and justice.” Who doesn’t want a bit more of that?

Free, online, Thursday 11th June, 5-6.30pm (UK).

• Navigating the future: Environment, equity and resilience in sustainable global health

Hybrid events: London Climate Action Week

The Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is hosting two hybrid events as part of London Climate Action Week. If you’re in London you can go along in person, but there is also a livestream and the events will be recorded.

On Tuesday 23rd June, 5.30-7pm (UK), there will be talks and a panel discussion on ‘Building resilience, improving equity’, which will “explore the importance of incorporating gender, health and livelihoods considerations into resilience measurement”. There’s also a drinks reception afterwards.

On Wednesday 24th June, 5.30-7pm (UK), there will be ‘A planetary health community conversation on food, AI and cities’.

• Event: Building resilience, improving equity

• Event: A planetary health community conversation

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

City Health Care Partnership CIC (based in Hull) is recruiting a Head of estates, facilities and sustainability. Apply by 14th June.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put out a call for a consultant in climate-health, economics and epidemiology. Apply by 15th June.

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is recruiting an Assistant project manager – sustainability. Apply by 18th June.

University College London (UCL) is recruiting a Research fellow / Senior research fellow (climate policy and health), who would work closely with the Greater London Authority (GLA). Apply by 21st June.

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub is recruiting a short-term Postdoctoral research associate, to work on an evidence review on mitigating overheating risk in clinical settings. Apply by 21st June.

Brighton & Hove GP Federation is recruiting two Waste audit and environmental officers, to work on clinical waste compliance and environmental sustainability through the RCGP Green Impact for Health Toolkit. Apply by 5th July.

• Head of estates, facilities and sustainability

• Consultant in climate-health, economics and epidemiology

• Assistant project manager – sustainability

• Research fellow / Senior research fellow (climate policy and health)

• Postdoctoral research associate

• Waste audit and environmental officers

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / notes from a nature recovery ranger / and radical hospitality.

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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The 2026 Europe Report of the Lancet Countdown

The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change is a large collaborative project, assessing data against over 40 indicators of the health impacts of climate change. In April, the latest annual report for Europe was published in The Lancet Public Health.

Among its key messages this year were that: climate change is already costing lives in Europe (with a noted sharp rise in heat-related deaths); fossil fuel dependence is holding back progress and harming health; and we need renewed momentum and leadership.

The authors conclude, “Renewed engagement, particularly by policy makers, is central to increasing momentum to protect the health of European populations and further unlocking the health co-benefits of mitigation actions.”

• Lancet Countdown 2026 Europe Report website

• Lancet Countdown 2026 Europe in The Lancet Public Health

Research: Heat-related deaths in care homes

A new analysis, published in the Age and ageing journal this month, looked at the risk of heat-related deaths in care homes in England.

The analysis looked at temperature and deaths in 2022-24 and also focused in on the heatwave in July 2022. It found that deaths in nursing homes increased by 34% during the July 2022 heatwave and by 13% in residential care homes. Over the longer timeframe, the relative risk of death increased on hotter days.

The authors conclude that heat stress must be recognised as a risk factor in care homes and that urgent action is needed to improve heat adaptation and climate change resilience in the social care system.

(In case you missed it last month, check out the Building climate-resilient social care guidance from Adaptation Scotland.)

• Heat-related deaths in social care in England

• Building climate-resilient social care

Collection: Climate, health and equity

The May edition of Health Affairs journal is themed around climate, health and equity. There are numerous interesting articles – some of which reflect the specific issues and responses in the USA.

It covers a lot of bases, including, “From crisis to strategy: mainstreaming climate risk in health systems planning” and “Unequal exposure: examining outdoor work and climate exposure in the US” through to “Farmers and ranchers: the stress and anxiety fueled by climate change, and interventions that could help”.

Have a browse – or if you’re really quick off the mark, there’s a launch webinar for this themed issue happening later today, 6th May, at 1pm EDT (6pm UK).

• Collection: Climate, health and equity

• From crisis to strategy: mainstreaming climate risk in health systems planning

• Unequal exposure: examining outdoor work and climate exposure in the US

• Farmers and ranchers: the stress and anxiety fueled by climate change, and interventions that could help

• Themed issue webinar

Review: Climate change and child health in Europe

The European Journal of Pediatrics has published a scoping review on climate change and child health, conducted by a team in the Netherlands.

The authors found “urgent respiratory, neurological, and perinatal risks amplified by social inequality”. They call for a move to address environmental issues ‘upstream’ and for the integration of environmental data into clinical practice.

While we’re thinking about paediatrics, are you a clinician or ward manager working with children in an NHS trust in England? Greener NHS is looking to interview people about overheating in acute healthcare settings. If you fit the bill and have experienced overheating at work, you can register your interest to take part in the research.

• Climate change and child health in Europe

• Register interest in the heat in paediatrics study

Report: Reusable medical textiles

“A different path is possible. Safe, effective alternatives exist that protect patients and staff while reducing environmental impact and often lowering total costs.”

Health Care Without Harm has published a new report on medical textiles. It is part of its reusable textiles revolution project.

The report gives an overview of the scale of single-use textiles and issues involved in changing to reusables. It also gives interesting details from four hospitals that made changes as part of the pilot project – in Brazil, Colombia, Philippines and the UK (Great Ormond Street) – and ends with recommendations for hospitals, policymakers and suppliers.

• Technical report: Reusable textiles revolution

Report: Accountability for environmental sustainability

A new report published by The King’s Fund and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) looks at the mechanisms used to hold local NHS trusts and boards to account for improving sustainability.

For example, there are already requirements such as for trusts and boards to produce ‘green plans’ to detail how they will meet sustainability goals. However, in practice, sustainability is often a lower priority than other goals. The report sets out the importance of leadership and of communicating the benefits of sustainability in the healthcare system.

The authors propose that accountability mechanisms be strengthened and sustainability embedded throughout broader accountability and performance management processes. There are ten specific recommendations for policymakers.

A related blogpost from CSH highlights 2026 as ‘a moment of significant risk’, as the merger of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care means there is uncertainty around national leadership for sustainable healthcare. These thoughtful recommendations offer a way forward.

• Environmental sustainability in the NHS (short summary)

• Environmental sustainability in the NHS (report PDF)

• A moment of risk for sustainable healthcare in England

RfP: Support a heat and mental health research cohort

Wellcome has released a request for proposals (RfP) for an organisation to deliver support for research projects exploring the impacts of heat on mental health.

Key activities include facilitating virtual and in-person meetings, needs assessment, co-developing a support programme and delivering training.

Expressions of interest due by 15th May, with submissions due 19th June.

• RfP: Heat and mental health cohort support

Webinar: Pregnancy in a warming world

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is hosting a webinar on the impact of climate change on maternal health, including “practical, scalable solutions”.

Speakers include Baroness Boycott (Peers for the Planet), Dr Fortunate Machingura (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine) and research midwife Sophie Barry Richards. The webinar is on Wednesday 20th May at 1-2pm (UK).

• Pregnancy in a warming world

Online event: SusQI Showcase 2026

Many of you will be familiar with the concept of sustainability in quality improvement (SusQI). Later this month, CSH is hosting its annual showcase of SusQI projects.

This year, the showcase is structured around the three shifts in the NHS ten-year plan. I’m sure you’ll find something in it to inspire and nourish you – there’s so much good work going on in this area.

The showcase is being held online, Thursday 21st May, 1.30-4pm (UK).

• SusQI Showcase 2026

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Bupa Dental Care is recruiting a Head of sustainability. No closing date as far as I can see.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Fellow in environmentally sustainable anaesthesia (ST3+ equivalent). Apply by 12th May.

Wye Valley NHS Trust has an opportunity for a Senior clinical fellow in anaesthetics & sustainability. Apply by 15th May (although it may close early).

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is recruiting a Climate, health & sustainability coordinator and a Sustainability Programme Manager. Apply by 19th May.

• Head of sustainability

• Fellow in environmentally sustainable anaesthesia

• Senior clinical fellow in anaesthetics & sustainability

• Climate, health & sustainability coordinator

• Sustainability programme manager

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s Thin Ink in conversation with Michael Shaikh / sash windows, cool shades / and the five trees project.

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

Share

Systematic review: Heat and health in working-age adults

A team in Australia has produced a systematic review looking at heat exposure and health in working-age adults (15 to 64). The review was published in Environment International.

It found that high temperatures and heatwaves significantly increase morbidity and mortality, particularly due to occupational and environmental factors.

Traditionally, children and older people have been the focus in terms of heat vulnerability. There is growing interest in and research on the implications of increasing temperatures for people of working age, particularly those who work outside.

Also in the ‘heat’ category, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently released its latest data on heat-related deaths and the new edition of its Adverse Weather and Health Plan.

While we’re on the subject, the ‘rigour without randomisation’ webinar on 22nd April looks interesting and satisfyingly niche. Hosted by the Centre for Evaluation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), it aims to give us, “an overview of natural experiments and the promise that they hold in evaluating weather-health alerts”.

• High temperatures and health outcomes among working-age adults

• UKHSA data on heat-related deaths

• Adverse Weather and Health Plan

• Webinar: Rigour without randomisation

Review: Sustainable anaesthesia

A review published in the British Journal of Hospital Medicine sets out ‘how to make a difference’ in anaesthesia. It was written by four UK anaesthetists who are part of the environmental advisory group at the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

The review clearly sets out how to apply principles of sustainable healthcare to anaesthesia, and how to apply sustainability principles in practice.

• Sustainable anaesthesia: how to make a difference

Guidance: Climate-resilient social care

I like this concise and clear new resource from Adaptation Scotland, Building climate-resilient social care: Guidance for practitioners. It’s written for social care professionals, setting out considerations for integrating climate adaptation into planning and service delivery, but I think has wider relevance for anyone with people in their care.

For example, considering whether an individual you’re supporting lives in accommodation that is likely to overheat in hot weather, or takes medication that increases heat sensitivity. Also, considering contingency arrangements for care during extreme weather.

It’s good to see a resource like this, giving clear examples of adaptation on the ground. Gold star!

• Building climate-resilient social care: Guidance for practitioners

Research request: Heat-resilient UK hospitals research

UKHSA is working on an evidence review of impacts and interventions related to high indoor temperatures in UK hospitals. If you are working on research in this area, they’d like to hear from you.

• Heat-resilient UK hospitals research

Toolkit: Evaluating climate-SRHR interventions

The Climate Change x Sexual & Reproductive Health evidence hub, created by YLabs, has recently published a new toolkit.

It is a guide for funders and organisations working on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in climate-affected areas. It aims to support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) related to climate-SRHR interventions.

• MEL for climate-SRHR interventions

Online event: Greener palliative care

The Greener Palliative Care Award scheme was developed by the Palliative Care Sustainability Network hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, in partnership with the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, the Association for Palliative Medicine, Hospice UK, Sue Ryder and Marie Curie.

The scheme sets out a framework for palliative care providers to use in working towards environmental sustainability. This event is a celebration of the first awards achieved under the scheme, with an opportunity to hear from the providers. It is happening on 16th April, 5pm (UK).

• Online event: Greener palliative care

• The Greener Palliative Care Award

Conference: Hot Brain 4 – climate change and neurological disorders

The UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The Lancet Neurology are jointly hosting their fourth ‘hot brain’ conference on climate change and neurology.

The conference is taking place in person (in London) and online on 12th May. Tickets are free and the draft programme is available now.

• Hot Brain 4 conference

Webinar series: Accelerating climate action for health

The Pathfinder Initiative is hosting a three-part webinar series, which starts with ‘Evidence for action: the future of climate and health research’.

Speakers at this webinar are from LSHTM, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It’s taking place on 21st April, 4-5.30pm (UK).

Subsequent topics are ‘What works for climate and health: lessons from cities’ (2nd June) and ‘Pathways to a low-carbon, climate-resilient Africa’ (1st July).

• Pathfinder Initiative webinar series

Funding: Climate and health challenge fund

The Centre for Net Positive Climate & Health Solutions recently launched a funding scheme for climate-health research. Challenge Fund Scheme A: Seedcorn Projects is offering up to £40,000 per project for short-term projects “that respond to emerging issues and changing policy priorities in climate and health”. Expressions of interest due by 11th May.

While we’re on funding, the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) has opened a funding pot focused on health and health inequality impacts of active travel interventions. Apply by 18th August.

• Climate and health challenge fund

• NIHR active travel funding

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Cool job, but be quick! UKHSA is recruiting a Senior environmental public health scientist (climate change & health). Apply by 10th April.

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is recruiting a Staff associate to support environmental epidemiology research focused on climate change, public health and equity. No closing date that I can see, but the job was posted on 25th March.

The Global Climate and Health Alliance is recruiting a Head of development. No sign of a closing date for this one either.

Health Care Without Harm Europe is recruiting a Finance and Administration Officer, based in Brussels. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Deputy director of estates management and sustainability (band 8d). Apply by 13th April.

Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth are recruiting a Climate adaptation consultant (apply by 15th April) and a Manager of climate solutions (apply by 16th April).

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is recruiting a Junior clinical fellow in emergency medicine and sustainability. Apply by 22nd April.

• Senior environmental public health scientist (climate change & health)

• Staff associate

• Head of development

• Finance and administration officer

• Deputy director of estates management and sustainability

• Climate adaptation consultant and Manager of climate solutions

• Junior clinical fellow in emergency medicine and sustainability

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / decorate the trenches / and scent and seeds.

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Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Collection: The ethics of climate-related health research

The March edition of The Bulletin of the World Health Organization is themed around the ethics of climate-related health research. I really welcome this – I think so many good researchers and research teams are thinking about these issues. And whether you’re thinking about them or not, as the authors say in their introductory editorial, “ethical values are built into the assumptions and models that inform decisions of real-life import”.

From the editorial, you’ll find links to the other articles, covering a range of topics including: five policy recommendations for sustainable clinical trials; participatory research and community engagement; and research ethics committees.

• Editorial: An ethical basis for research into health and climate change

• Five policy recommendations for sustainable clinical trials

• Participatory research and community engagement

• Research ethics committees and regulation of climate change and health research

Research: Assessing deaths from heatstroke

A study in The Lancet Public Health looked at reported heatstroke mortality using data from over 30 countries. The research team found wide variation in recorded deaths, likely in part due to differences in how well heatstroke is recognised and diagnosed.

In Japan, heatstroke mortality was recorded at 5.81 per 1 million people, whereas most European countries registered less than 1 death per million. The authors highlight the need for health systems to be able to recognise and manage suspected heatstroke.

A comment responding to the study, published in the same journal, highlights the importance of also recognising morbidity related to high temperatures, such as non-fatal heatstroke and pregnancy complications.

• Research: Variation in reporting of heatstroke mortality

• Comment: Heatstroke mortality in a warming world

Personal view: Include people with disabilities in climate change and health research

A personal view, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, explores how climate change impacts the health of people with disabilities and highlights gaps in research in this area. The authors call for disability-inclusive research to address gaps in knowledge and support the development of inclusive climate change adaptation.

Also, the good people at Sensing Climate contributed to a recent paper, drawing on insights from a project in Uganda and Kenya about climate change adaptation and the experiences of disabled people in rural areas. They conclude, “A key lesson from this work is that inclusive climate adaptation is not possible without recognising, respecting and affirming the lived experiences of disabled people”.

• A call to include people with disabilities in climate change and health research

• Exploring the lived experience of disability and climate injustice

Teaching exercise: Public health response to a climate event

A case study, published in the journal AJPM Focus (linked to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine), sets out a teaching exercise designed to train public health professionals about responses to climate-related emergencies. I think it’s really interesting to see this type of preparation and training, hopefully inspiring others to do similar exercises.

Describing the exercise in detail, the paper explains the scenario given to students (in person and virtually). The potential threat in the scenario relates to heat and flooding and there is a local event planned. Students are asked to consider preparation and response, including advising on whether the event should go ahead.

Interested in teaching methods in this area? I also enjoyed a reflective article about a workshop for physiotherapy students at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published on the Environmental Physiotherapy Association website.

• Public health response to a climate emergency: a teaching exercise

• Teaching planetary health advocacy in physiotherapy education

Guidance: Environmental sustainability of operating rooms

This recent guidance published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal gives 21 recommendations for sustainability in operating rooms. It focuses on reducing waste, switching to reusable items, recycling and ‘rethinking’, such as through procurement.

In its development, the authors drew on other guidance, including those familiar to us in the UK, e.g. the Green Theatre Checklist and the Green Surgery Report.

• Increasing the environmental sustainability of operating rooms in Canada

• Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist

• The Green Surgery Report

Activism: Jury finds medics not guilty

In February, six UK health professionals who took part in a climate protest during the 2022 heatwave in London were found not guilty of causing criminal damage by a jury.

This case has been running for some time, as the jury in a previous trial of the six were unable to reach agreement on a verdict. It’s been interesting to see that both juries understood and carefully considered the message from the health professionals.

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) published a short write-up of the recent verdict and a longer report on the 2024 trial, which explains in more detail what the jury was asked to consider.

An interesting footnote on the ripple effects of activism – the Southbank Centre in London hosted a play based on transcripts from the first trial and a team from the Sustainability Accelerator at Chatham House used a visit to the play to open up discussion with a group of private sector and government leaders.

• UKHACC story on recent verdict

• UKHACC story on the 2024 trial

• Read about the Chatham House theatre trip

Webinar: Climate, fossil fuels, and health justice in Africa

The Global Climate & Health Alliance (GCHA) is hosting a webinar (in English and French) on 12th March focused on climate and health in Africa.

It will set out climate and health issues, focus on the experience in Africa, particularly around fossil fuels, and consider evolving legal pathways for change. This is in the context of COP32 (in 2027), which will be hosted by Ethiopia and presents an important opportunity for health leaders in Africa to make their voices heard.

• Webinar: Climate, fossil fuels, and health justice in Africa

Webinars: Climate Health Society event series

The Climate Health Society, based in the USA, is hosting a series of webinars over the next month or so.

There’s not a lot of detail on them yet, but they sound interesting. ‘Transportation, climate, health: building connections across fields’ on 10th March; ‘Climate change and its impact on rheumatic conditions’ on 25th March; ‘War and climate change’ on 8th April; and ‘Climate communication for health professionals’ on 21st April.

• Climate Health Society webinars

Pilot sites: Sustainable kidney care

The KitNewCare project, which is working on making kidney care more sustainable, is recruiting kidney centres to act as new pilot sites.

Several tools and optimisations have already been developed and tested and are now ready for further testing and refining.

Pilot sites can be kidney centres in the UK or the European Union. Apply by 13th March.

To mark World Kidney Day in March, the KitNewCare partners are hosting a series of webinars related to sustainable kidney care.

• Apply to be a KitNewCare pilot site

• Read more about sustainable kidney care activity in the UK and Europe

• World Kidney Day webinars

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking to hire a consultant focused on technical communications covering public health, air pollution, energy access and climate change. Apply by 10th March.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is recruiting a (band 8a) Sustainability manager. Apply by 11th March.

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe is recruiting three Directors to its board. These are unpaid roles. Apply by 11th March.

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership is recruiting a Sustainable procurement and net zero manager. Apply by 12th March.

The University of Manchester is offering a PhD on heat exposure, anxiety and depression in Indonesia. Apply by 16th March.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a (band 7) Sustainability project manager. Apply by 17th March.

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) is recruiting to the role of Director. Apply by 27th March.

The University of Newcastle is offering a PhD in public health, exploring who shapes healthy and sustainable policies in UK cities. Apply by 30th March.

The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE) at Harvard Chan School of Public Health is recruiting a postdoctoral climate and health research fellow. Apply by 3rd April.

Last but certainly not least, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is recruiting an Energy apprentice. Apply by 3rd April.

• Consultancy – Technical communications, public health, air pollution, energy access, climate change

• Sustainability manager

• Member of the board of directors (HCWH)

• Sustainable procurement and net zero manager

• PhD heat and mental health in Indonesia

• Sustainability project manager

• Director (UKHACC)

• PhD healthy and sustainable UK cities

• Climate and health research fellowship

• Energy apprentice

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s a beautiful essay on whales, grief, motherhood, and communal care / a really memorable band I went to see last month / and a useful tree planting guide for health settings.

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Research: Heat prevention plans save lives

A study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters investigated how effective heat-health warning systems and action plans (‘heat prevention plans’) are at reducing the risk of heat-related deaths.

The research team, led by the Czech University of Life Sciences and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), analysed thirty years of data (1990 to 2019) from 14 European countries. They found that where heat prevention plans were implemented, there was an estimated 25% reduction in heat-related excess deaths. The authors calculate that over 14,000 lives have been saved in that time by heat prevention plans.

• Summary of the heat prevention plan study on the LSHTM website

• Heat prevention plan journal article (open access)

Research: Patient perception of climate change impacts on eczema

This unusual study from San Francisco asked people attending dermatology clinics about climate change factors that impacted their atopic dermatitis (eczema). As the authors note, it is rare for patients to be asked about their perceptions of climate change impacts.

Of the 207 people who completed the study survey, 75% said extreme heat had an impact on their condition and 39% said poor air quality had an impact.

Most respondents (86%) said they were interested in having a better understanding of how these environmental factors affect their eczema, but only 36% had discussed it with their dermatologist.

• Patient perception of climate change impacts on eczema

Guidance: Decarbonising hip replacements

Getting it right first time (GIRFT) has published its second ‘greener pathways’ guide. This time the focus is on decarbonising the total hip replacement pathway.

The practical guide sets out 13 key steps trusts can take across the pathway, from prevention and referral through to post-operative care. Some recommendations, such as those relating to making the most efficient use of theatre time, not only reduce carbon emissions but also reduce waiting lists.

A webinar about the guidance is being held on 11th March, setting out the recommendations and a case study of implementation.

• GIRFT guide on decarbonising the total hip replacement pathway

• GIRFT hip replacement webinar

Interview: Partnership working on climate action and mental health

I recently spoke to Ben Rossington from Thrive LDN about the London Mental Health and Climate Coalition. This partnership of organisations has been awarded funding for a project to support Londoners in tackling climate change while also improving their mental health.

Since we spoke, recruitment has opened for the project’s Community Advisory Panel. There are more details in the link below – apply by 16th February.

Thrive LDN’s next Climate and Mental Health Forum meeting is on 18th February, 11am-12.30pm (UK). This session will feature input from Climate Outreach and the Inner Climate Response Alliance. It’s online and open to all. Email benjamin.rossington@nhs.net for an invite.

• Interview with Ben Rossington

• Community Advisory Panel

• Climate and Mental Health Forum

Call for case studies: Heat and mental health

United for Global Mental Health is collecting case studies on interventions being implemented to reduce the impact of extreme heat on mental health. If you have something to share, fill in their short form by 14th February and they’ll get in touch if they need more information.

• Call for case studies on interventions to address the impact of heat on mental health

Report: How to decarbonise a healthcare supply chain

Last month, the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) hosted a webinar to introduce its recently published report, Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain: strategic actions for health systems.

The report explores accelerating supplier decarbonisation through procurement criteria and optimising demand and how supplies are used. An international team focused on alignment of procurement standards worked on the report, led by staff at NHS England.

• How to decarbonise a healthcare supply chain

Online launch: Green Gastroenterology Challenge

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is launching a Green Gastroenterology Challenge. Six teams will be selected to take part, receiving mentoring and support to develop, run and measure sustainable quality improvement (SusQI) projects.

Applications to take part in this (fully funded) challenge open on 9th February and a launch webinar with more details will take place 6-7pm (UK) that day. The deadline for applications is 20th March.

• Green Gastroenterology Challenge

• Gastroenterology Challenge launch event

Lecture: From implementation failure to ongoing mediation

This looks intriguing! Eivind Engebretsen, professor of interdisciplinary health science at the University of Oslo, is giving a guest lecture at the University of Oxford. The lecture is called ‘Why sustainability in health care cannot be implemented: from implementation failure to ongoing mediation’.

Engebretsen argues that sustainability is not something that can be ‘implemented’, rather it takes shape through mediation, “where knowledge, values, and authority are continually renegotiated”.

In person in Oxford or online, Thursday 5th March, 6-7.30pm (UK).

• Lecture: From implementation failure to ongoing mediation

Funding: Climate Impact Awards

The Climate Impacts Award scheme at Wellcome opened for applications on the 20th January and will remain open until 8th April. The overall aim is to drive policy action, by using research to make the impacts of climate change on physical and mental health more visible.

If you’re interested in applying, there is a webinar about the funding on 23rd February, 12pm (UK).

• Climate Impact Awards scheme

• Register for the Climate Impact Awards webinar

• Projects funded in previous rounds of the scheme

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust is recruiting a (Band 8c) head of sustainability. Be quick! Apply by 8th February.

University College London (UCL) is recruiting a policy and engagement manager (Europe) to work on the Lancet Countdown project. Apply by 12th February.

Getting it right first time (GIRFT) is recruiting to its healthcare environmental sustainability fellowship programme, focusing on urology or trauma and orthopaedics. Apply by 13th February.

The University of Glasgow is recruiting a research assistant to work on a programme looking at improving health service sustainability by integrating patient, public and health professionals’ views into health research. Sounds good! Apply by 19th February.

The clinical fellow scheme sponsored by NHS England’s chief sustainability officer is currently open for applications. Secondment to the role will start in September. Apply by 22nd February.

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is recruiting a lead facilitator for its education team. Apply by 5th March.

• Head of sustainability

• Policy and engagement manager (Europe)

• GIRFT healthcare environmental sustainability fellow

• Research assistant

• Chief sustainability officer’s clinical fellow scheme

• Lead facilitator - education team

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / somewhere I’m planning to walk / and in praise of doing.

Curious about me? I work with not-for-profit organisations as an editor. Sometimes as a proofreader, web editor, writer or researcher. I’m open to ideas, if you think we could work well together. I’m curious about you! Reply to this email if you want to tell me something about yourself or if you have questions or feedback for me.

The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) is a World Health Organization (WHO) hosted network. Last week, it hosted a webinar to introduce a recently published report, Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain: strategic actions for health systems. The report is arranged in two main sections: accelerating supplier decarbonisation through procurement criteria and optimising demand and how supplies are used.

An international team focused on alignment of procurement standards worked on the report, led by staff at NHS England. The authors have given examples and suggestions of how recommendations can be tailored for different healthcare systems, contexts and priorities.

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Supply chain emissions

We often talk about the carbon footprint of healthcare. A commonly reported figure is that healthcare contributes around 5% of carbon emissions. But did you know that healthcare supply chains (things like buying medicines and medical equipment) make up 60 to 80% of those emissions? Making progress on decarbonising our supply chains could have an enormous impact on bringing down the emissions from healthcare overall.

Often the things we buy to use in national health systems are made overseas. Those suppliers are usually making goods for health systems in multiple countries. Coordination between countries on the standards and actions they ask of their suppliers could have an even more significant impact on reducing overall emissions.

Introducing the report, Sarah Ouanhnon, Head of Net Zero Delivery and Partnerships at NHS England, also highlighted another issue – the increasing challenges to the resilience of supply chains, such as the impact of climate change and extreme weather.

Supplier decarbonisation

Daphne De Leener, Net Zero and Sustainability Lead at NHS England, introduced the first section of the report: accelerating supplier decarbonisation through procurement criteria.

De Leener emphasised that the most important first step is to talk to suppliers, to find out what they are already doing and what they may be planning in terms of decarbonisation. Procurement teams have buying power. They can signal to their suppliers that decarbonisation is important to them.

Talking to suppliers about decarbonising can encourage them to look at their processes and work towards lower carbon manufacturing and delivery.

The next step is to look at adding emissions criteria to procurement processes. The report gives guidance on defining, developing and implementing such criteria. Alignment between countries is important, sending a clear and consistent message to suppliers.

The report gives the example of the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap. NHS tenders include a weighting for net zero and social value and new high-value contracts require suppliers to produce a carbon reduction plan.

The six policy development steps explored in the report are:

• Establish a clear strategic direction

• Engage and understand the supply chain

• Define and communicate high-level criteria

• Design an implementation approach

• Implement the policy

• Monitor progress and risks and plan for next steps.

Usage and demand

Zuleika Henderson, Senior Advisor at NHS England, set out the second part of the report: optimising demand and usage of supplies.

This is perhaps a more familiar topic, as it focuses on clinical and other frontline staff in the health system making choices about what goods and services they use and prescribe.

Henderson said, “First of all, we suggest prioritising low regrets actions. These are the actions where viable and effective decarbonisation strategies have already been identified, the pathway to put them in place is clear and they call for relatively limited resources. […] Secondly, it’s useful to use those low regrets actions to identify and to address the barriers and enablers that you come across in the system; that will then accelerate progress at scale later on.”

These are often those win-win-win scenarios that I find so appealing – such as tackling waste and overprescribing, or reducing unnecessary glove use.

The next step is to look at where single-use products can be replaced with reusable products. And the third step is exchanging high-carbon products for low-carbon products, such as inhalers used in asthma care.

The report gives examples of key success factors for actions:

• Setting priorities

• Clinical leadership

• Engagement of key partners (e.g. patient advocacy groups and professional organisations)

• Evidence-based interventions

• Cross-professional collaboration

• Supporting resources

• Appropriate policy levers.

Interesting examples from the panel

Ulisses Loli, shipping specialist at UNICEF, described an example of a change it has piloted. It launched an initiative to assess whether routine vaccine shipments could be delivered by sea rather than air. It required complex arrangements with suppliers and governments, but in July 2025, more than half a million doses of a pneumococcal vaccine were delivered to Côte d’Ivoire by sea, reducing carbon emissions for that delivery by over 70% and cost by up to 50%.

Lourdes Guadalupe Sanchez Aparicio, sustainability manager at Unitaid, explained how a big shift in HIV treatment had an unexpected positive impact.

Large-scale treatment programmes moved from efavirenz-based regimens to dolutegravir-based regimens. The shift was made because dolutegravir supports faster viral suppression, has fewer side effects and is cheaper. But it also transpires that the move from efavirenz to dolutegravir will result in a reduction of 26 million tons of CO₂e over the period 2017-2027. This is the equivalent of the carbon emissions for the same period for the whole of Geneva.

Aparicio said that dolutegravir still generates significant amounts of CO₂, but because of the work done on assessing emissions, we know that 80% comes from producing the active ingredient. That means a significant reduction can be achieved without impacting patients, through decarbonising production.

In summarising the key points for the webinar audience, a final point was highlighted that bears repeating. Work on prevention and improving population health will support the reduction in emissions across the supply chain.

Download the report from the ATACH website: https://www.atachcommunity.com/resources/resource-repository/decarbonizing-the-healthcare-supply-chain-strategic-actions-for-health-systems/

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently published a report setting out the evidence on climate change and mental health. There are direct and indirect effects, such as the psychological impact of flooding and the knock-on effects of climate change on livelihoods and food supply issues. There are also mental health impacts of the growing awareness of current and future environmental change, such as eco-anxiety. The report also highlighted evidence (and evidence gaps) around interventions, noting that taking climate action can have positive mental health effects.

How might we act on this evidence? For inspiration, I spoke to Ben Rossington from Thrive LDN about the London Mental Health and Climate Coalition. This partnership of organisations was recently awarded funding for a project to support Londoners in tackling climate change while also improving their mental health.

What does Thrive LDN do?

Thrive LDN is a London-wide, public mental health partnership and we focus on giving every Londoner the opportunity to have good mental health and wellbeing.

We were launched by the Mayor of London and London health board partners in 2016 and we’re trying to make long-term changes to the mental health landscape. We’re focused on prevention, infrastructure, population mental health and partnerships.

We run various initiatives and we’re currently the co-lead for a research partnership called the Population Mental Health Consortium, focused on narrowing inequalities and advancing understanding.

We are now also going to be the lead partner in a three-year London-wide coalition to inspire Londoners to take climate action and improve their mental health. That project was recently granted £1.5 million in funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

How would you describe the issues around mental health and climate change in London?

There are a lot of Londoners who need mental health support right now – over 175,000 new referrals were made to mental health services in London between August and October 2025. And we know that extreme weather and air pollution are driving anxiety and depression in Londoners. The UKHSA climate change and mental health report really gives a solid evidence base on impacts.

There’s also evidence that taking climate action helps mitigate environmental risk and improves mental health and wellbeing. That in turn should reduce the pressure on health services.

We’re seeing a climate change and mental health emergency in London and we will have to adapt and take action in a wide variety of ways. People coming together to take collective climate action helps. Climate action is mental health action.

We know from our wider work about the impact of racism and of poverty on mental health. They’re really powerful issues. Those issues intersect with the impacts of climate change, although there is a lack of research in this area, particularly around interventions.

But we see this as social justice work. We may not have all the research evidence we would want, but it’s clear there are people and communities in London with more vulnerability to climate impacts. Our new partnership includes organisations focused on people living in poverty, racialised minorities and young people. There’s some evidence already, but we want to understand more about the impacts on those communities.

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I understand this project grew out of the Climate and Mental Health Forum – could you tell me about that?

I was involved in setting up the forum, in June 2024. It is partly based on existing models Thrive LDN has used before to bring together people from across the city.

We’ve had ten sessions since then and it’s been successful, with lots of people turning up – people in community organisations at local levels who are interested in climate or nature and mental health, people working in local authorities and in the NHS, health commissioners, academics – these groups wanted to talk to each other, but there hadn’t been a space for them to come together.

Our vision for it is that we create and hold this space for people. We want it to be a learning space and a sharing space, for work that’s going on at a community level.

I really enjoy the forum. There is a diverse range of people: young people, academics, charity workers, people with lived experience of mental health who work on other programmes with us and all the other groups I’ve mentioned. We remunerate some people who attend to make it accessible to them, which includes young people with lived experience of mental health issues. Those voices need to be heard in that space.

What will the new funding support?

The funding will support nine partners, including Thrive LDN, to deliver a whole range of activities – across mental health, the arts, working with young people, racial justice, climate communications, academic research – and that’s not even all of it! For example, we will run arts events, climate cafes, wellbeing activities – and training for community ambassadors on climate action.

Some activities will be for all Londoners; others will be focused on areas where our partners are based or on particular groups.

Crucially, we’ll be designing a way of monitoring and evaluating all of this and trying to confirm whether there is a so-called virtuous cycle. When people feel mentally healthy and more hopeful, they are more likely to take climate action, and by taking climate action they are more resilient and then they’re mentally healthier and so on. We want to test that, through these activities.

We also have outcomes we want to achieve, such as improved mental health in the populations we are talking to, particularly through reducing eco-anxiety. We want to see examples of climate action and policy impact as well. The training we deliver will be part of the project’s legacy and we hope to share materials and learning online.

What have you learned so far that you might share with someone inspired to do similar work elsewhere?

I think it’s interesting that most of our partners are not climate-focused organisations or even necessarily mental health focused ones. I would say, you can be ambitious when thinking about climate action, approaching people and groups new to it and making it exciting for them.

I would say, try hard to be inclusive. Focusing on climate justice and mental health justice is really important.

And I would say, be hopeful in the narrative you use. We live in a period where a lot of the people we talk to feel really hopeless, about the state of the world, about their living conditions or their mental health. It’s so important to also recognise the impacts of taking action.

How do people get involved?

The online forum meetings are a good place to start. It’s a space that anyone interested in this project can join and it’s also a way for the project partners to reach new people. People can get in touch with me to be added to the forum mailing list, and also for a chat.

We will be recruiting for a Community Insights Panel, which is a model we’ve used for other projects. We’ll create a structure to support people who aren’t well represented in the work that’s being done, or who are members of a target audience we want to reach, so they can be involved in decision making.

And Thrive LDN has an email newsletter and there will be updates about this project going in that. There will be a launch event, probably in spring 2026, so look out for information on that.

Find out more about the project on the Thrive LDN website, contact Ben (benjamin.rossington@nhs.net) or join the next forum meeting.

It’s cold and beautiful where I am, with a full moon glowing over a snowy garden and blackbirds pecking at the last of the windfall apples. Wishing you a gentle start to the new year.

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Research: Framework for decarbonisation recommendations

A paper published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine in December describes the Environmental Lessons Learned and Applied (ELLA) framework. The framework was developed by NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme working with researchers, policy makers and healthcare professionals.

The ELLA framework supports the identification, modelling and development of recommendations for decarbonising a clinical care pathway. You could use it for the area you work in, either for reducing the carbon footprint of a frontline service or to look at wider service design.

If you’ve been wondering where to start in decarbonisation, this might offer some useful ideas. See also – the newly updated Green Physician Toolkit from the Royal College of Physicians.

• Research: The ELLA framework

• Green Physician Toolkit

Research: Co-developing adaptation stories

A team from Finland detail a five-step method for co-creating climate change adaptation stories with local stakeholders in a paper published in Climate Risk Management in December.

As part of a project to renew a hospital in western Finland, they worked on stories to illustrate and inspire thinking about the likely local impacts of climate change, from the perspective of a nurse, a patient and an engineer in the hospital.

The paper sets out interesting background on storytelling and co-creation of narrative. It’s another potential tool for your toolbox, enabling stakeholders to explore information in a different way.

• Research: Adaptation-stories for imagining futures

Research: LCA for ACL

Everyone loves a life cycle assessment, don’t they? A team in Switzerland has undertaken a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing surgical care for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against conservative care. The analysis is published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

It’s an area of ‘clinical equipoise’, which the authors describe as “genuine uncertainty within the scientific and medical communities as to which interventions are clinically superior”.

The analyses find carbon hotspots in the surgical pathway in single-use products, transportation and heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and electricity. In physiotherapy, hotspots were identified in transportation, laundry and heating. Surgical care has at least 8.5 times the footprint of conservative care.

• Research: Environmental footprint of ACL pathways

Case studies: Green Nursing Challenge

In 2025, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) partnered with the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing and the Foundation of Nursing Studies to run The Green Nursing Challenge.

Six teams took part in a 15-week programme, in which they designed, tested and evaluated sustainable quality improvement (SusQI) projects to improve care and reduce environmental impact. These changes very often save significant amounts of money too.

Every time CSH runs a programme like this, the results are inspiring. Given time and support, frontline health professionals always have the ideas and expertise to make sustainable changes.

If you’re looking for inspiration, take a look at the case studies on the CSH website. The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust took part in a similar local programme and its case studies are also available.

• Green Nursing Challenge reports

• Hampshire Green Team Competition reports

Toolkit: Sustainable kidney care

CSH has been working with the UK Kidney Association and Health Innovation North-East and North Cumbria on the Sustainable Kidney Care Project.

As part of this work, the group has developed a toolkit to support kidney centres in the UK in implementing sustainable care. It contains case studies and practical guides for 13 sustainable changes, from reverse osmosis water reclaim and central acid concentrate delivery to personalised dialysis prescription.

• Sustainable kidney care toolkit

• The Sustainable Kidney Care Project

Training: Reusable medical textiles

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund (NREF) are working together on a project focused on sustainable textile production and consumption in medical settings.

As part of the project, a free online training course is available covering key themes and case studies. Themes include the chemistry behind sustainable fabrics, the role of circular supply chains in health care, and strategies for responsible procurement.

• Training: Reusable textiles revolution

Webinars: Air pollution

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday 20th January called, ‘Tackling air pollution: The human and planetary benefits of active travel’. It aims to look at the link with climate change, and includes a panel discussion on “health-focused responses to the climate crisis”.

Speakers include Marina Romanello, Executive director of Lancet Countdown, Mark R Miller, Professor of the Environment and Health at The University of Edinburgh and Francesca Racioppi of the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health.

While we’re on the subject of air pollution – this webinar looks interesting. East of England Ambulance Service and the CO Research Trust are holding a workshop to discuss air pollution caused by ambulances queueing. Also on Tuesday 20th January.

• RCPSG webinar on air pollution and active travel

• Online workshop on ambulance air pollution

Webinars: ATACH guidance

The good people at the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), a World Health Organization (WHO) hosted network, are hosting two webinars in January which will introduce recently published guidance.

On Thursday 22nd January, 10am (UK), a webinar will give a practical introduction to the new resource “Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain: strategic actions for health systems”. The actions cover two areas: accelerating supplier decarbonization through procurement criteria and optimising demand and usage of supplies.

On Tuesday 27th January, 8.30am (UK), a second webinar will introduce new guidance on how to measure greenhouse gas emissions in health systems. The webinar will feature contributions from the NHS in England, the Centre for Sustainable Medicine, National University of Singapore (CoSM) and the WHO.

• Webinar: Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain

• Resource: Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain

• Webinar: Measuring health system emissions

• Resource: Measuring health system emissions

Webinars: The Lancet MedZero

The Lancet MedZero is due to launch ‘in early 2026’. It has the ambitious aim of being an open access platform bringing together carbon footprint data for individual elements of clinical pathways.

Webinars on two key topics are being held at the end of January, each held twice to cover different timezones. Topic 1 is ‘High-quality data, novel methodologies, and robust scientific standards’ and topic 2 is ‘Embedding carbon analytics into health systems and clinical practice’.

• Webinar: The Lancet MedZero topic 1

• Webinar: The Lancet MedZero topic 2

• Find out more about The Lancet MedZero

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The wonderful team at CSH is expanding again! Four new Nature Recovery Rangers will create, improve and sustain green spaces at healthcare sites. The roles are based in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Apply by 12th January.

The University of Exeter is hiring a Research Fellow in Climate and Health to join the recently launched Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions. Apply by 20th January.

The global office of Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth have published a Request for Proposals (RfP) for a Values Based Food Procurement Consultant to work on a commitment for healthcare systems and hospitals. The project runs to October 2026 and is fully remote. Submit proposals by 20th January.

Two PhDs through the University of Leeds look really interesting. For ‘Material changes for a sustainable healthcare system’, you’ll also have Prof Bhutta from Brighton and Sussex on your supervisory team. Apply by 30th January. For ‘Developing sustainable surgical practices…’, apply by 27th February.

• Nature Recovery Rangers

• Research Fellow in Climate and Health

• Values Based Food Procurement Consultant

• PhD ‘Material changes…’

• PhD ‘Sustainable surgical practices…’

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / winter feasting (not just for Christmas!) / and thriving in an age of disasters

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

Share

Report: Climate change and mental health

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new report bringing together the available evidence on climate change and mental health in the UK.

It shows that climate change already affects mental health in the UK – through the impact of extreme weather events and through anticipation of future impacts. The report highlights some groups in particular, such as people involved in farming and other land-based work, young people, and those with existing mental health issues.

A webinar to mark the launch of the report is being held today, Thursday 20th November, 1.30-3pm (UK).

• Climate change and mental health report

• Collection: Climate change and mental health

• Webinar: Climate change and mental health report

Research: Reducing waste

More or less everyone agrees that reducing waste is A Good Thing. But in practice, it can be tricky.

Research published in the November/December edition of The Journal of Climate Change and Health focused on reducing the amount of regulated medical waste (RMW) produced in operating rooms in one US hospital. In practice, this was about understanding why things were being done the way they were, making changes and explaining them to staff. The authors note that, “the median amount of RMW produced decreased significantly, from 19.11 tons to 7.44 tons per month”, with an accompanying large saving in disposal costs and carbon emissions.

A second article in the same journal looked at the impact of unused medication and disposal in the Dutch healthcare system, finding unused medications across all healthcare settings, with related carbon and economic costs.

A recent project in England looked closely at medicines waste in care homes. It found that annual medicine waste per care home ranged from £2125 to £9404, equivalent to £125 per bed every year. This came with a large carbon footprint and a significant cost in staff time. This project went a step further, creating guidance and case studies to illustrate simple ways of making change.

• Reducing regulated medical waste

• Unused medication in the Dutch healthcare system

• Medicine waste in care homes

Report: 2025 Lancet Countdown

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change launched its 2025 annual report at the end of October.

The extensive work behind the report is in monitoring data across a range of over 50 indicators, such as heat-related deaths, wildfire impacts and food insecurity resulting from extreme weather. Brought together, the evidence gives an overview of how climate change is affecting human health.

The report also includes indicators that look at climate action – what action is being taking to mitigate and adapt – and economic issues, such as the impact of extreme weather on labour capacity and the balance of investment in fossil fuels and renewable energy.

This year’s key messages include:

• Delays in climate change action are increasingly costing lives and livelihoods

• Backsliding on climate change action is putting people in harm’s way

• Climate change action offers a lifeline.

Alongside the report, a dedicated website presents data and summaries, with resources for individual countries.

One last thing – there’s a consultation on the research indicators open until the end of November. If you have thoughts on what should be measured, get in touch with the Countdown team.

• Lancet Countdown website

• 2025 report in The Lancet (requires registration)

• National data sheet for the UK (pdf)

• Consultation on climate change and health indicators

COP30: Belém Health Action Plan

COP30, the United Nations climate conference, is coming to a close after a frenzy of activity this month in Belém, Brazil.

Reflecting the higher profile of health in recent COPs, one of the ‘flagship initiatives’ of the Brazilian COP presidency was the Belém Health Action Plan, launched on 13th November. There is a welcome focus on health equity and on adaptation in health systems.

The team at the World Health Organization (WHO) has put together a webpage of resources related to the plan, which includes two companion reports and a library of case studies.

The Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) hosted a virtual event ‘From Belém to LSHTM: Climate adaptation for health at COP30’ with speakers from Brazil and the UK. A recording is available on the LSHTM website.

• Belém Health Action Plan resources

• LSHTM COP30 webinar recording

Estates: First building meets NHS Net Zero Building Standard

The new Women and Children’s Building at the Countess of Chester Hospital site opened in September. It provides maternity, neonatal, paediatric, and women’s outpatient care, housing over 500 staff.

It has now been verified as the first completed NHS facility in England to be compliant with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, introduced in 2023. Some of the relevant features include high levels of insulation (reducing the need for heating and cooling) on-site solar panels, and “eco-friendly building materials”. The building is fully electric and meets BREEAM Excellent standards.

Ecospheric, a sustainability consultancy, supported the project in the role of Net Zero Carbon Coordinator. You can read more about the project on their website (and I spy one of my fellow CAT alumni on their team).

• Countess of Chester Hospital press release

• NHS Net Zero Building Standard

• Ecospheric project page on the building

Training: Sustainability education for nurses and midwives

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) and the Burdett Trust for Nursing have begun an ambitious programme of education and training for nurses and midwives.

‘The Future of Health and Social Care’ project is offering an education programme in three parts, focused on sustainability, climate literacy and social justice.

Tier 1 is an introductory course, delivered online for up to 1000 participants. It is open to all frontline nurses and midwives, including students, anywhere in the world. It’s fully funded, so grab yourself a place now. There are currently six available course dates with places still available.

Tier 2 is a more technical course, introducing SusQI and carbon footprinting methodologies, and designed for nurses and midwives with responsibility for managing a team or budget. There are fewer places available on this course and it’s already quite booked up, so be quick if this is what you’re interested in.

Tier 3 is a net zero leadership programme, designed for senior nursing and midwifery leaders, again with more limited places.

It’s a fantastic opportunity, so do share it with your nursing and midwifery colleagues and friends.

• Training: The Future of Health and Social Care

Funding: Heat stability of health products

Medical products are often not designed to be stored at high temperatures and may not be stable in the increasingly hot and humid conditions associated with a changing climate.

Unitaid has opened a call for proposals to research the heat stability of health products, potentially also mapping solutions. Products in scope include oral tablets, point-of-care diagnostic tests and long-acting injectables. The total funding available is around US$10 million.

The closing date for proposals is 23rd January 2026.

• Call for proposals: Investigating the heat stability of health products

Webinar: Cancer care on a changing planet

As part of London Global Cancer Week, Cancer Trials Ireland and Oncologists United for Climate and Health (OUCH) are hosting a webinar on climate change and cancer care. It plans to cover a lot of ground, from how Hurricane Helene disrupted cancer care in the US to how the field can and is reducing the environmental impact of cancer diagnosis, care and treatment.

The webinar is on Tuesday 25th November, 3-4.30pm (UK).

• Webinar: Sustainable cancer care

Webinar: Health professionals and the planetary health diet

I mentioned last month that the EAT-Lancet Commission recently published an update to its planetary health diet.

The good people at Greener Practice are hosting a webinar focused on the Commission’s recommendations and the role healthcare professionals can play. The webinar will feature Dr Shireen Kassam, founder of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK.

It will take place on Wednesday 10th December, 1-2pm (UK).

• Webinar: EAT Lancet and the role of health professionals

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS) at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is recruiting a Senior Climate and Health Economist. Apply by 21st November.

West London NHS Trust is recruiting a Senior Sustainability Manager. Apply by 26th November.

CCHS is also recruiting a Senior Climate Change Scientist (co-benefits research and toolkits). Apply by 27th November.

Wellcome is looking for a Research Manager – Field Development, Climate & Health. Apply by 30th November.

UKHSA is also recruiting a Senior Scientist based in Birmingham to work with LSHTM, “supporting epidemiological investigations into climate change’s impact on non-vector borne infectious diseases”. Apply by 1st December.

The Lancet Countdown Africa Centre is looking for five academic Working Group Leads. Apply by 19th December.

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia is recruiting a PhD to work on the impacts of wildfire smoke on public health in the UK and Europe. Apply by 7th January.

• Senior climate and health economist

• Senior sustainability manager

• Senior climate change scientist

• Research manager

• Senior scientist

• Working group leads

• PhD: smoke signals

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / something wholesome to eat / and an exhibition I enjoyed

How are you? Thank you to everyone who has signed up, shared posts, emailed or found me on LinkedIn. I’m grateful. Please do pass this post on to anyone you think might find something useful in it!

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Review article: Climate change and diagnostic samples

The upcoming December 2025 edition of Public Health features a paper by a team from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about diagnostic samples. It uses the example of the COVID-19 home-sampling service as a case study.

The service relied on the postal service to move samples from people’s homes to laboratories. This meant the samples were not kept in controlled temperature environments. The authors draw attention to the cast-iron post boxes common in the UK and the high temperatures that can be reached inside.

Some thought has already been put into medicine storage under changing climatic conditions, but we also need to consider the impact on diagnostic tests and samples.

As the climate changes and self-testing and self-sampling becomes more common, the authors argue that international standards must be updated or developed to take this context into account.

• Climate change and diagnostic samples – opening Pandora’s (post) box

Editorial: Climate change and respiratory infections

The October edition of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization features an editorial that sets out a useful overview of the connections between climate change and the increasing risk of respiratory infections.

The concise article covers changes in temperature and humidity – influencing where airborne pathogens and spores can live – as well as air quality issues, from pollutants such as the burning of fossil fuels and wildfire smoke.

• Climate change and respiratory infections

Trial: Testing sustainable dietary advice

A team working across three sites on the island of Ireland (Belfast, Cork and Dublin) undertook a 12-week randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test a sustainable diet. The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Participants successfully made changes to their diets, reducing carbon emissions and improving the quality of their diets. Importantly, the team showed that it was possible to design an intervention that supported people to make changes.

In other sustainable diet news, the EAT-Lancet Commission recently published an update to its planetary health diet. Six years on from the original publication, food remains central to health and climate goals. As the authors say, “food systems [...] are the single most influential driver of planetary boundary transgression.”

For a useful breakdown of what’s in the new version, I recommend the third link below, which will take you over to Thin’s Ink (by ).

• Sustainable diet RCT

• 2025 Eat-Lancet Commission (requires registration)

• Thin Ink: The Planetary Health Diet, Revisited

Guidance: Conversations on disability and the climate crisis

The good people at Sensing Climate have been working on guidance to “support respectful conversations about disability and the climate crisis”. The ‘Crip Up Climate Conversations’ guidance shares new ways of understanding disabled people in the context of the climate crisis.

“The single story of vulnerability overlooks the rich knowledge and skills of disabled people within climate action. Climate change is disabling; it is making our world more uncertain, more unpredictable, more harmful. Yet the people who know what it means to navigate a disabling world – disabled people – are so often left out of this work.”

Take a look – and please think about how you can involve disabled people in your work, from the start. (See also the wonderful writing this month on disabled-led spaces.)

• Supporting conversations about disability and climate

• Connecting conversations: disabled-led spaces

Online events: 2025 Lancet Countdown

The Lancet Countdown on Climate and Health will launch its new annual report on 29th October.

Each year, the report is the culmination of work by over 100 experts in many countries, tracking the latest data against key climate and health outcomes. The global report is followed by regional reports.

You can register to join the online global launch event on the 29th, which includes keynote speakers, presentations and panel discussion. On the same day, there will be an online launch event for the Latin America report.

A UK launch event is being held in person at the Wellcome Collection, in partnership with University College London, on 30th October.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working with indicators from the 2025 report to inform a joint brief on how climate change and environmental degradation are impacting the humanitarian response. A launch event for the joint brief is being held on 4th November.

• Global launch event for Lancet Countdown

• Latin America launch event

• UK launch event

• MSF-Lancet Countdown joint brief launch event

COP30: Health pavilion

It’s that time of year again – COP30, the United Nations climate conference, is due to take place in Belém, Brazil, from the 10th to the 21st November.

Once again, the World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting a ‘health pavilion’. There will be a livestream of events at the pavilion on its website. The programme of events was published just the other day and there is a lot to choose from!

The Belém Health Action Plan will also be launched at COP30, on 13th November.

• Livestream: COP30 Health pavilion

• Health at COP30

Funding: Decarbonising health and social care

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funding programme for research into decarbonising the health and social care system opens in November.

This is a large-scale funding programme and full details will be available on 19th November. First-stage outline applications are due in March 2026. (Can I help? Let me know!)

• NIHR decarbonising health and social care programme

Resources: New Greener Practice website

Greener Practice, which runs the UK’s primary care sustainability network, has recently launched a new website, packed with information and resources for GPs and other primary care staff aiming to move towards more environmentally sustainably practice.

On 18th November, they are hosting a half-hour webinar to give people a brief tour of the website, its quality improvement projects, resources, templates, case studies and more.

• Greener Practice webinar

Online events: CSH networks

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) Nursing and Midwifery Sustainability Network is hosting a free online event titled, ‘Greener Plates, Healthier Futures: Nurses Leading the Dietary Shift’. It features Giovanna Dicandia, Nursing Lead at Plant-Based Health Professionals UK. The meeting is on Friday 31st October, 12.30-1.30pm (UK).

The CSH Education for Sustainable Healthcare and Pharmacy Sustainability Networks are jointly hosting a series of free online events about the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC). PHRC is a student-led initiative that evaluates how planetary health is being integrated into education for health professionals in more than 100 institutions across 15 countries. This event will feature four pharmacy and dentistry students and takes place on Thursday 13th November 7-8pm (UK).

• Nursing and Midwifery Sustainability Network event

• Planetary Health Report Card event

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a band 8a Energy and Sustainability Manager. Apply by 23rd October.

NTW Solutions Ltd, which provides services to NHS organisations, is recruiting a Decarbonisation Manager. Based in Newcastle, I think you’d be working across Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. Apply by 26th October.

MSF is recruiting for a Climate and Environment Focal Point role, based in Paris. Apply by 7th November.

Wellcome is looking for a contractor to develop and convene a workshop around ‘biomolecule-sensing smart wearables for heat resilience and healthcare in low-resource settings’. Expressions of interest due 24th October, with submissions 10th November.

• Energy and sustainability manager

• Decarbonisation manager

• Climate and environment focal point

• Interdisciplinary workshop convener

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / 20 beautiful things to do (thanks ) / and a lovely way to learn some Dutch proverbs (thanks )

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Analysis: Greening kidney care

A study published in Clinical Kidney Journal sets out the data behind potential changes which could be made to haemodialysis as part of the KitNewCare project. KitNewCare is a European-Union funded project to improve the environmental sustainability of kidney care.

The research team used life cycle assessments to analyse changes in dialysis, energy use and travel, waste management and water use. The authors highlight the importance of prioritising changes to minimise emissions while maintaining clinical efficacy. “By focusing on the most effective solutions, healthcare systems can integrate sustainability without compromising patient care.”

• Calculating the environmental footprint of changes to kidney care

• The KitNewCare project

Funding: Climate Change and Health Research Collaboration

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has opened its Climate Change and Health Research Collaboration Awards.

This large-scale funding is for research that “addresses the challenges of climate change by building resilience into the delivery of health and social care services during severe weather events”.

There’s lots of information available already and NIHR will shortly be announcing a webinar to share more. Closing date for applications is 10th March 2026. (Can I help? Let me know!)

Can I sneak this one in too? NIHR is also looking to fund research into “supporting the assessment of health and environmental impacts in health and social care”. Are metrics, modelling techniques and methodologies your thing? Apply by 2nd December.

• NIHR Climate Change and Health Research Collaboration Awards

• NIHR Research Methodology Award

Article: Self-care interventions and extreme events

This interesting commentary, published in Global Public Health, explores how climate-related extreme weather events can affect sexual and reproductive health, and how self-care interventions can help.

‘Self care’ is a term that is understood in a variety of ways (let’s take a moment to appreciate Audre Lorde), but in this context self-care interventions refer to “evidence-based tools”, including medications and devices, that can be used at least partially outside of healthcare settings. For example, self-monitoring blood glucose during pregnancy, or self-testing for HIV.

The authors suggest that integrating these interventions into emergency preparedness can build climate resilience.

• The value of self-care during climate-related extreme weather events

Report: Green Maternity Report

While we’re in the realm of reproductive health, I was delighted to see the publication of the Green Maternity Report 2025.

It brings together excellent, practical, impactful case studies from the UK Green Maternity Challenge, insights from lived experience and carbon modelling. It sets out eight priorities for sustainable maternity care and a clear set of evidence-based recommendations.

It’s the result of collaboration between the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) and the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition (SHC). Bravo!

• Green Maternity Report 2025

Call for reviewers: IPCC cities report

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) recently opened registration for expert reviewers for its Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. Registration is open until 30th November.

The Wellcome Trust is partnering with the University of Alberta to support climate and health experts to get involved in the IPCC review process. They are hosting a webinar to explain what’s involved in the review process and how to apply. The webinar is on 15th October, 3pm (UK).

• IPCC seeks reviewers for cities report

• Register for Wellcome Trust webinar

Report: Greener NHS in England

NHS England has published a report reflecting on the first five years of its commitment to decarbonise. Its headline figure is that NHS carbon emissions have decreased by 14% since the net zero strategy was published and are down 68% against 1990 emissions.

The report contains more detail on specific areas, setting out progress, case studies and next steps.

• Five years of a greener NHS

Conference: European Healthcare Climate Summit

Healthcare Without Harm Europe is hosting its annual (free and online) European Healthcare Climate Summit on 9th October. The theme is ‘Climate resilience at the halfway point: mitigation and adaptation in a warmer Europe’.

It features plenary sessions on system-level change and building resilience on the ground.

• European Healthcare Climate Summit

Webinars: Free online seminars

As autumn settles in here, several UK universities are hosting interesting online lectures.

The Global Health Economics Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is hosting Professor Martin Hensher. In his lecture, Martin will introduce ecological economics and explore what it means for health, healthcare and health economics. The lecture will be livestreamed on 2nd October, 5.45-7.30pm (UK).

The Cabot Institute for the Environment and the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research at the University of Bristol are hosting an online seminar on heat exposure and health risks in low-income communities. The event features Dr Charlotte Ray on her research into community-based heat adaptations and Ritah Pavin Nakanjako, whose work focuses on passive heat adaptation strategies in low-income communities in Africa. The seminar will be livestreamed on 7th October, 1-2pm (UK).

The Grantham Institute and the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London are hosting a webinar sharing insights from UK ‘decision-makers’ (described as being in ‘different levels of government’) on climate and health, such as how co-benefits are considered in decision-making processes. The webinar is on 16th October, 12-1pm (UK).

Last, but certainly not least, Green Templeton College at the University of Oxford is hosting a seminar on long-term care and climate change. It features Dr Adelina Comas-Herrera, exploring how long-term care systems can prepare for climate-related emergencies. The seminar is on 22nd October, 4.30-6pm (UK).

• Webinar: ecological health economics

• Webinar: heat exposure and health risks

• Webinar: insights from UK decision-makers

• Webinar: long-term care and climate change

Conference: Environmentally sustainable health and care research 

The second conference on environmentally sustainable health and care research, jointly run by the Medical Research Council (MRC), NIHR and Greener NHS at NHS England will take place on 22nd October, in London and online. (Register by 13th October.)

The conference will focus on decarbonising research estates and capacity building for climate and health research.

• Conference: sustainable health and care research

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The Centre for Climate and Health Security at the UK Health Security Agency is recruiting a Public Health Consultant. Be quick! Apply by 2nd October.

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership has two roles open – Sustainability Procurement Assistant (apply by 2nd October) and Senior Sustainable Procurement and Net Zero Manager (apply by 5th October).

Wellcome Trust is recruiting a Senior Research Manager, Climate & Health. Apply by 5th October.

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 5 Sustainability Programme Support Officer. Apply by 6th October.

In South Australia? The Department for Health and Wellbeing is recruiting a Climate Change and Health Project Officer. Apply by 12th October.

• Public Health Consultant

• Senior Research Manager, Climate & Health

• Climate Change and Health Project Officer

• Sustainability Procurement Assistant

• Senior Sustainable Procurement and Net Zero Manager

• Sustainability Programme Support Officer

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m going to see / who I’m taking a moment to appreciate

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

Share

Systematic review: Climate action and health inequalities

A research team in Scotland has published a systematic review of the effect of climate mitigation and adaptation policies on health and health inequalities.

Examples of policy actions include home energy efficiency programmes, subsidising renewable energy, encouraging active transport or improving the resilience of infrastructure.

The article, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, reviews evidence from high-income countries on whether and how climate actions narrow or widen health inequalities. The extent of evidence varies, but in some areas (such as transport), there is good evidence of effects.

The authors conclude that, “both positive and negative effects on health inequality were found to be possible, suggesting the importance of this research area in supporting climate justice”.

• Effect of climate policies on health and health inequalities

Funding: Impact of climate adaptation on health and health inequalities

If you're feeling inspired by the article above, this might be for you. The Public Health Research Programme at the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is looking to commission a consortium to undertake research focused on climate change adaptation and health.

For example, if a local government undertakes an adaptation intervention (perhaps related to flooding, housing or transport), what are the impacts on health and health inequality?

Outline applications are due by 9th December 2025.

• NIHR funding for adaptation and health research

Review: Decolonising the heat-health nexus

An article in the Social Science & Medicine journal takes the topic of heat stress and argues that the urgency of climate change has meant we are in danger of only viewing it from a “simplistic, technocratic perspective”. Instead, the authors call for the inclusion of the “everyday, traditional, embodied and intersectional aspects of human heat practices”.

They argue that dominant perspectives are rooted in colonialism and, looking across the period from the 1800s to the present day, they propose an analytic framework with heat as a disrupter of health, an enabler, and an energy property.

It’s an interesting paper and some of its conclusions chime with other work on low-carbon cooling and person-centred information around heat and health.

• Towards a decolonial heat-health nexus (part paywalled)

• Download full manuscript from one author’s institution

Report: Climate change, health and migration

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a new report focused on the need to strengthen systems responding to the health needs of people affected and displaced by climate change. It highlights that, in 2023, more than 20 million people were internally displaced (had to move, but didn't cross a border) by weather events.

The report highlights the necessary short-term interventions, such as delivery of water, sanitation and mental health services, but also focuses on a shift to longer-term preparations.

• Health system strengthening report

Call for proposals: Events at COP30 Health Pavilion

COP30, the United Nations climate conference, will be held in Belém, Brazil from 10th to 21st November 2025.

WHO is hosting a ‘health pavilion’ with Wellcome and is inviting expressions of interest from organisations that would like to host an event there.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 14th September.

• Propose an event for the COP30 Health Pavilion

Case studies: Belém Health Action Plan

The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), a network hosted by the WHO, has published a collection of case studies. They present policies and actions, giving details of the experiences of ATACH members as they work to adapt and implement climate and health interventions.

For example, a case study from the Netherlands looks at the implementation of its national heatwave plan and one from Nigeria focuses on the development of a plan for climate resilient infrastructure for basic services.

The case studies are presented as being in alignment with the draft Belém Health Action Plan, which is due to be launched at COP30.

• ATACH case studies

• Draft Belém Health Action Plan

Guidance: Airborne allergens

The Centre for Climate and Health Security at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a collection of documents related to airborne allergens. These include pollen and fungal spores, as well as pollution. The changing climate is expected to affect airborne allergen patterns.

Particularly interesting is the guidance on ‘thunderstorm asthma’ – a phenomenon through which storms trigger an increase in people requiring care for asthma symptoms. It has been documented in several places, most strikingly in Melbourne in 2016.

• Airborne allergens

• Thunderstorm asthma

Webinar: Patient voices for planetary health

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), part of the National University of Singapore, is hosting a webinar on ‘patient voices for planetary health’ on 16th September. Round of applause! I'd love to see more patient involvement and advocacy in all things climate and health. (Can I help you with that? Get in touch!)

Unfortunately for me, the timing means it’s at 5am UK, but perhaps it will suit you better wherever you are!

• Webinar: patient voices for planetary health

Online events: CSH networks

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) Nursing and Midwifery Sustainability Network is hosting a free online event. It features Emma Pascale Blakey, lead nurse for sustainability in the Nursing Directorate at NHS England, and Rhea Conn, Clinical Sustainability Nurse Specialist. The meeting is on Thursday 28th August, 12.30-1.30pm (UK).

The CSH Palliative Care Sustainability Network is also hosting a free online event, in the form of a practice-sharing session with input from sites piloting greener practice in palliative care. Topics will include: reducing plastic use, de-prescribing, and re-using patients’ own medications. The meeting is on Monday 8th September, 12.30-1.30pm (UK).

• Nursing and Midwifery Sustainability Network event

• Palliative Care Sustainability Network event

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The University of Exeter is inviting applications for three interesting funded PhDs: on the health impacts of home energy efficiency policies; on the link between climate change and violence; and on sustainable horticulture and public health.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is recruiting a research fellow for its environmental epidemiology team, to work on the HEARTH project, on health and extreme heat. Apply by 31st August.

LSHTM is also offering three funded PhDs focused on climate change and health security in the UK – quite specific and interesting topics are listed on its webpage. Apply by 20th October.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is recruiting a Sustainability Manager. Apply by 7th September.

Last but not least, the wonderful Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is recruiting a clinical delivery lead to work on an international sustainable kidney care project. Apply by 8th September.

• PhD on health impacts of home energy efficiency

• PhD on climate change and violence

• PhD on sustainable horticulture and public health

• Research fellow for HEARTH

• PhDs on climate change and health security

• Sustainability manager

• Clinical delivery lead

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m listening to / it’s the season for this recipe

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Review: Applying the STEPS framework to decarbonising urological care

The urology journal BJU International recently published a review of low-carbon urological care using the STEPS framework to present the evidence. STEPS is an acronym for ‘Settings and Treatments, Efficiency, Prevention and System change’ and is used to guide thinking around low-carbon clinical pathways.

It’s an interesting and readable paper, highlighting published work on urology that fits into each area – for example, moving some procedures out of resource-intensive operating theatres to other settings and changing behaviour through using shutdown checklists in theatres. They find that changes to anaesthesia are well documented, whereas changes to surgical approaches and procurement of equipment require more attention.

• All STEPS count – an integrated framework for net zero urological care

Analysis: Emissions by clinical specialty

An article published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe journal presents an analysis of available data from the NHS in England on carbon emissions from clinical activities by specialty.

The researchers looked at routine data from secondary and tertiary care for 2022/23. They included over 17 million hospital admissions and almost 102 million outpatient attendances.

Using previously published carbon assessments, the team calculated that the top 20 clinical specialties by volume of activity accounted for 79% of carbon emissions. General internal medicine, trauma and orthopaedics, and general surgery were the top three carbon emitters.

The authors suggest the data are useful to inform work on identifying carbon hotspots, where more granular work can be done to identify changes.

• Carbon emissions from clinical activities by specialty

Position statement: Sustainability in obstetrics

The European Association of Perinatal Medicine has published a position statement on environmental sustainability in obstetric healthcare. It sets out existing knowledge and recommendations for action based on evidence and experience, with actions for individuals and organisations.

The statement touches on travel, remote appointments, inhaled anaesthesia, pharmaceutical waste, reusable products, and overuse or inadequate use of healthcare services.

• Environmental sustainability in obstetric healthcare

Research: Nudging plant-based hospital food choices

Really short? Put the plant-based option first and people are more likely to choose it.

A team in Germany set up a study at University Hospital Essen (appropriate). Inpatients at the hospital chose meals from a standard menu initially. In an intervention phase, the plant-based dish was listed first. In a third phase, a verbal recommendation was added. They gathered data from 6575 inpatients, over almost 27,000 meals. Patients were nearly twice as likely to choose the plant-based dish during the intervention phases compared to baseline.

• Nudging strategies for plant-based dietary choices in hospital patients

Surveillance: Mosquito-borne disease in Europe

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has launched weekly reports presenting surveillance updates on mosquito-borne diseases. It has also published public health guidance on practical prevention and control measures. This year, outbreaks of locally acquired chikungunya virus in France indicate a very early start to mosquito season.

• New ECDC mosquito-borne disease updates

• ECDC public health guidance

Framework: Green radiotherapy

The Radiotherapy Board’s Environmental Sustainability Working Group has launched a framework of sustainability actions for radiotherapy in the NHS.

Alongside the framework is an award scheme, under which radiotherapy departments can apply for a bronze, silver or gold award to recognise their level of sustainable working.

• Green radiotherapy framework and award scheme

Webinars: Extreme heat, maternal and child health

The Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative, the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) and UNICEF are hosting a series of three webinars presenting evidence on child health impacts of extreme heat and real-world examples of actions.

On Tuesday 29th July at 2pm (UK), the second webinar will focus on ‘Adapting facilities and services: treating heat-related illnesses in women and children’. It will feature examples from India and Bangladesh of what governments are doing to put in place structures to reduce the impact of heat, and how training and research is preparing frontline staff.

• Webinar: adapting facilities and services

• Catch up with a recording of the first webinar in the series

Event: Global Conference on Climate and Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health in Brazil, 29 to 31 July. It is co-hosted with the Government of Brazil and the Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO). The main sessions will be live-streamed.

• Global Conference on Climate and Health

Online events: CSH networks

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) Women’s Health Sustainability Network is hosting a free online event, with a theme of practical steps to make gynaecological surgery safe and sustainable. It features three speakers from different trusts in England. The event is on Tuesday 29th July, 7-8pm (UK).

The CSH Nursing & Midwifery Sustainability Network is also hosting a free online event, this time on sustainability in social care. The speaker is Jo-Anne Wilson, who worked as a nurse in the NHS before moving to work with older people in community settings. The event is on Thursday 31st July, 12.30-1.30pm (UK).

• Women’s Health Sustainability Network event

• Nursing & Midwifery Sustainability Network event

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The NHS New Hospital Programme is recruiting for a director of sustainability “to lead the integration of sustainability and social value into every layer of the programme”. Apply by 31st July.

The Environment Change Institute at the University of Oxford is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher in food systems, to work across environmental, health and economic analyses. Apply by 12th August.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is recruiting a research fellow to join its environmental epidemiology research team working on a climate and health study called THERM-UK. Apply by 13th August.

• Director of sustainability

• Postdoctoral researcher in food systems

• Research fellow for THERM-UK

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / where I’m headed soon (by train) / what I’m going to do when I get back

It’s hot here this week and it’s interesting to see the heat health warning system being rolled out in real life. Here’s what else caught my eye this month.

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Research: Climate impacts and older people

Two studies that caught my eye recently have a demographic in common – older people. One study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used a variety of participatory research methods to explore climate adaptation for older people in the city of Porto. It looked at climate change impacts, health and mobility challenges, and found that each research method brought a new perspective. For example, in addition to interviews, researchers used observation of movement in public spaces and ‘go-along’ interviews in green and other public spaces. It's a really interesting study design.

The researchers found that the older adults were concerned about increasing temperatures and extreme weather events, perceiving them as a direct threat to their health and wellbeing as well as reporting limiting their physical activity and social interactions as they avoid outdoor activities in hot weather. The interviewees were keen on local authorities creating more shaded areas, including through tree-planting, and providing more seating in the shade. There's lots of interesting detail about urban planning, public spaces, parks, lighting, hydration points and public toilets.

The second study is a scoping review, looking at existing evidence on the psychological impact of flooding on older adults. The review was conducted by a team based in Bath in the UK, but the papers included in the review were from several high-income countries. Older age is linked to more health conditions and mobility problems and older adults can be more vulnerable to the impact of flooding. The review found that climate-related flooding is associated with depression and post-traumatic stress in older adults. It also showed that poor social support contributes to worse mental health outcomes.

Some papers focused on factors that mitigated poor mental health outcomes. Greater support and a strong sense of community cohesion were associated with lower levels of depression and posttraumatic stress.

• Participatory methods to support climate adaptation for older adults living in vulnerable urban areas

• Understanding the psychological impact of flooding on older adults

Article: Checklist for including planetary health perspective in complex interventions

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” John Muir

I was reminded of this quote when reading an article in The BMJ this month. A group of authors from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the University of Victoria in Canada have tackled the knotty problem of designing and evaluating complex interventions for climate and health, where so much is connected.

Building on existing Medical Research Council guidance for complex interventions in public health, they have developed a checklist that adds a planetary health perspective – integrating natural systems and considering larger scales and longer time-frames.

There are so many unintended or extra effects to any intervention – potentially positive and negative – and this is a welcome attempt to support researchers to consider co-benefits, risks and trade-offs in a careful and methodical way.

• Planetary health perspective for complex interventions

Report: Climate adaptation in the NHS

Earlier this month, the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC) published a policy report, Building a climate-resilient health system in the UK.

It recognises the current and increasing challenges facing the healthcare system as the climate changes, from extreme weather events including flooding and heatwaves, and changing patterns of disease.

The report sets out seven key recommendations for policy makers, including around funding, infrastructure, workforce and public health, and calls for immediate action.

Dr Mark Harber, special adviser on sustainability at the Royal College of Physicians, said, "Investing in NHS infrastructure to prevent our hospitals from overheating during high temperatures and equipping our workforce to respond to climate-related risks must be prioritised with urgency. Without committed and sustained action, we risk leaving the NHS – and the communities it serves – unprepared for the significant health challenges posed by a changing climate.”

• Building a climate-resilient health system in the UK

• Blog introducing the report

Policy change: Sustainability and England’s 10-year plan for health

A new ten-year plan for the NHS in England is expected any day now.

Of course, the devil will be in the detail, but so far the government has frequently trailed the intention to include three shifts: moving care from hospitals to communities, focusing on prevention rather than just treatment, and moving from analogue to digital.

These three shifts could be so beautifully aligned with the principles of sustainable healthcare. The shifts could be implemented in ways that benefit patients, public finances and the environment, all at the same time. I worked with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) on an article (linked below) explaining the origins of the ten-year plan and mapping existing work in the NHS and at CSH against the three shifts we expect to see in the plan.

“The 10-year plan will set the direction for healthcare in England over the coming decade. The changes the government seeks to bring about could help to ensure the NHS is sustainable for future generations – financially, environmentally and socially – but only if sustainability is a guiding principle throughout the implementation of the plan.” Chris Naylor, Policy Lead, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

• NHS ten-year plan: sustainability and the three big shifts

Report: Realistic Medicine – Critical Connections

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer published their annual report earlier this month and I found it surprising, in a good way. It’s become the norm to hear health and healthcare systems described in terms of innovation and efficiency, targets and waiting lists, but here is a text about healthcare that is full of kindness, connection and purpose. What a treat.

"Empathy and human connection sit at the heart of what it means to be a health and care professional. To care for the planet, is to care for ourselves, our families and our communities; to be proactive in living healthily is not only investing in health for ourselves but contributes also to planetary health. This is the virtuous cycle of mutuality."

One of the five chapters is devoted to exploring planetary health in the Scottish context, touching on resource use, prevention, broader determinants of health and connection with nature.

The report and the approach it reflects is rooted in a broader movement in Scotland referred to as ‘realistic medicine’, which promotes a personalised approach to care, while reducing harm and waste.

• Chief Medical Officer's annual report

• Realistic Medicine website

Interview: Primary care and climate change

I enjoyed this episode of , featuring Dr Munro Stewart, a GP in Dundee. In just 24 minutes, it covers all sorts of things related to being an environmentally conscious health professional seeing patients in a busy practice, including flooding, diet, mental health, air pollution, broader determinants of health and health inequalities.

• Improving public health and combating climate change

Consultations: Nutrition data and heat stability insights

The Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) has shared two international calls for input, both with a deadline of 30th June, so you'll need to be quick if you have something to say!

The first is a call for data to help a team working on the integration of nutrition in climate and health policies. The aim is to put together guidance that will help countries integrate nutrition into their own climate and health policies. If you know of peer-reviewed literature, policy documents or case studies that are relevant to the alignment of nutrition, health and climate goals, the team would love to hear from you.

The second is a survey inviting insights on heat instability or vulnerability of health products to extreme heat. Health products include medicines, devices and equipment. As well as studies and technical reports, real-world examples and personal stories are welcome. There is a follow-up meeting planned for September.

• Call for data on integrating nutrition into climate and health policies

• Call for insights on heat stability and health products

Webinar: Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health

Back in May, at the 78th World Health Assembly, World Health Organization (WHO) member states adopted the first-ever global action plan on climate change and health. I can only imagine the hard work that goes into getting agreement at that level.

And it’s nothing if not ambitious. The plan aims to guide member states, “in developing climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems; enhancing surveillance and early warning systems; protecting vulnerable populations; and integrating health into climate policy and financing mechanisms”.

If you're intrigued, WHO is hosting a public webinar to talk through the key bits of the plan, implementation steps and opportunities to support action, on 10th July, 2-4pm CET.

• Webinar: Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub is recruiting four short-term research roles, including one which is focused on health impacts of overheating in prison settings. Apply by 4th July.

The new Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions at the University of Exeter is recruiting a social science research fellow. Apply by 8th July.

The climate and health team at Wellcome is recruiting a climate finance consultant on a short-term basis. Expressions of interest by 8th July.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is offering an opportunity to take part in a residential ‘Team Science Camp’ themed around decarbonisation and adaptation of health, social care and research systems. It's open for applications from researchers working in relevant areas. Apply by 9th July.

The Climate-Life-Nexus Initiative at Heidelberg University is recruiting a coordinator and manager, supporting operations and strategic development. Apply by 21st July.

• MACC Hub research roles

• Social science research fellow

• Climate finance consultant

• Team Science Camp

• Climate-Life-Nexus Initiative coordinator and manager

Admin update: Free for all

This publication has been running for almost 18 months. I enjoy the work involved in putting it together and I’ve had lovely feedback from people receiving it. I had hoped it might slowly build an audience of enough paying subscribers to cover some of my time and interviewees’ time too.

Although the overall audience is steadily growing, paid subscriptions have been fairly static. I am so incredibly grateful to my handful of paid subscribers, but I’ve decided to transition to a fully free model. There are some boring international tax issues which cost more to manage than I bring in. And I’m not comfortable putting a paywall on content, when my motivation is all about sharing information.

If you can see a way to pay for my time some other way, do let me know! Otherwise, I will gladly accept the gift of your time reading. In other words, please do not upgrade to paid. You’re wonderful just as you are.

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / what I saw at the cinema this month / what I’m listening to (hat tip to )

Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Research: The experience of planetary health leadership

A study from researchers at Sheffield Hallam University, published in BMJ Leader, explores the experiences of leaders working in planetary health in the UK.

Analysing interviews, the researchers identified six themes: creating community; managing the scale of the challenge; morality; creating consensus; shaping culture; and identity (as leader and/or as activist).

The paper includes several impactful quotes from the interviewees.

“Defined problems [where you can] make progress, excite people and brings people along with you… if you go too abstract, people can’t really get on board with that and can’t see themselves in [it].”

It also gives recommendations for strengthening leadership development in planetary health and highlights the need to respond to the “wellbeing needs of leaders navigating this emotive and uncharted territory”.

• Community, courage, culture and care: exploring the experiences of planetary health leadership

Research: Modelling acute care in extreme heat

In 2021, British Columbia in Canada experienced a serious heatwave. The Canadian temperature record was broken on three days, with a highest-ever temperature of 49.6°C. Hospital admissions increased and some hospital emergency departments broke all-time records for visits. Waiting times for ambulances increased significantly – exceeding 20 hours for low acuity patients.

An article in The Lancet Planetary Health describes the process of building and running a discrete event simulation (DES) model based on the acute healthcare system during this heatwave. The research team used the model to apply three interventions – increasing numbers of staff just before and during the heatwave, applying mass casualty procedures, and using community-based cooling beds – and measure the impact on key performance indicators such as waiting times.

The model found significant improvements in four of their six indicators. The authors recognise the limitations of the model, but nonetheless believe it identified “tipping points and thresholds across the system, which could be useful for decision making.”

• Climate disaster effects on acute health care

Research: Assessment of clinic climate toolkit

Back in 2022, the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston published a toolkit for community health centres and clinics. Its aim was to support health workers in low-cost or free healthcare settings to talk to their patients about climate risks.

The toolkit has clinical guidance, tips for patients and checklists for staff, covering preparedness for extreme weather, heatwaves, hurricanes, floods and wildfire.

The newly published research is based on interviews with clinicians who used the toolkit. It found that they valued it, particularly that there was “actionable information on climate health risks in resource-constrained settings”. However, they expressed concerns about complexity and literacy barriers and felt there could be more visual material. These concerns were taken on board and an updated toolkit produced.

As someone who often works on patient information projects, this paper really drew my attention. This is a great example of how climate and health work can be translated to frontline conversations between clinicians and patients, and I love to see real-world evaluation of how well materials work. Gold star!

• Assessment of utilization of the Climate Resilience for Frontline Clinics Toolkit

• The clinic toolkit

Learning and action: All things kidney care

There is a lot going on in sustainable kidney care this month! First, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is currently inviting applications for ‘kidney centre sustainability champions’. It aims to build a network of 60 champions, working in kidney care in the UK, who will go on to lead sustainable quality improvement projects. It’s a great opportunity to build skills, knowledge, experience and networks.

Tomorrow (22nd May) at 2pm (UK), the Kidney Care Sustainability Network is hosting an online event on dialyzer reuse.

And on Monday next week (26th) at 3pm, the International Society of Nephrology is hosting a webinar that sounds interesting, on ‘Ethical challenges for green nephrology: getting the priorities right’.

• Apply to be a kidney centre sustainability champion

• Webinar on dialyzer reuse

• Webinar on ethical challenges of green nephrology

News: First detection of WNV in mosquito in UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced today that its monitoring programme had detected the first evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) in mosquitoes collected in Britain.

It's important to say that there have been no cases of WNV in the UK, other than those related to travel elsewhere. This report relates to genetic material found in samples collected in 2023.

The current risk to the public is therefore still assessed as very low. However, it is a reminder of the importance of being aware of the likely changes in vector-borne disease.

In a related press release, Dr Arran Folly, arbovirologist at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), said, “The detection of West Nile virus in the UK is part of a wider changing landscape, where, in the wake of climate change mosquito-borne diseases are expanding to new areas. Only through continued surveillance can we assess the risk to animal and public health.”

• First detection of West Nile virus in UK mosquitoes

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Event review: Public health and climate action

Catch up on some highlights from the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Climate and Health Conference, held in London this month.

• Public health and climate action

Launch event: Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) European region is convening an advisory group, the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, with the aim of increasing support for action on health impacts of climate change.

The group will be led by HE Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, and supported by Sir Andrew Haines, Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

A launch event and initial hearing is being held in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 11th June. You can register to view a livestream of the event.

• Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health

Event: SHARE 2025

If you're looking for some sustainable healthcare inspiration, I would recommend making time for the Sustainable Healthcare Academic Research and Enterprise (SHARE) conference.

It might seem like a long time to be in an online meeting, but I attended last year and it was excellent – well-chaired and with lots of concise presentations. The hardest part will be choosing which breakout sessions to join.

Free, online, on 20th June, 11.30am to 5pm (UK).

• SHARE 2025

Short film: Driving change in a Colombian hospital

I enjoyed this 12-minute documentary film, featuring an environmental manager in a hospital in Colombia, and highlighting the work of Health Care Without Harm and the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals network. It's a great introduction to some of the changes that can be made in health settings, particularly focused on reusable medical supplies and with tantalising glimpses of its urban forest.

• A hospital transforming the environment

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) is recruiting a marketing and communications manager, based in Washington DC. I can’t see a closing date but it was posted just last week.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is looking for a sustainable medical product advisor, to be based ideally in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels or Paris. Apply by 1st June.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University in Sweden is offering a postdoctoral position on climate extremes and population health. Apply by 5th June.

The Lancet Countdown Europe is looking for a co-chair for working group four (the economics and financing section). This is essentially a voluntary position. Apply by 31st May.

And this one isn’t a role for an individual, but the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) is inviting expressions of interest from organisations interested in hosting a new South Asia Heat Health Hub. Apply by 6th June.

• Marketing and communications manager

• Sustainable medical product advisor

• Post doc in climate extremes and population health

• Working group co-chair

• Host the South Asia Heat Health Hub

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m watching (thanks to ) / what I’m listening to

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I had the good fortune to attend the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Climate and Health Conference in London last week. Here are some of my highlights.

What can public health do?

FPH President, Kevin Fenton, opened the conference with a question for delegates to reflect on throughout the day – in these challenging, constrained and complex times, what should the role of public health professionals be in climate and health work? It was a question that was explored and illustrated throughout the day.

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Lea Berrang Ford, Head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Centre for Climate and Health Security, picked up the theme with a series of tips for public health people. These included, “focus on the triple-win, no-regret opportunities”, like supporting healthy diets and active travel. Yes, these are complex issues, but there is so much reward for health and sustainability.

The tip I found the most interesting was, “build your expertise in decision-making under deep uncertainty and complexity”. This seems so vital in health (and elsewhere), and it is not often clear where the opportunities lie to build that expertise. Lea suggested that the ongoing work of pandemic preparedness can be a good training ground.

Laurie Laybourn, Executive Director of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative, picked up on this issue with his striking nautical-themed presentation on leadership in an era of cascading risks, steering us through the need for excellent situational awareness, resilience, speed and storytelling.

Rosemary Green built on the idea of the win-win issue with an update on the Pathfinder Initiative, an unusually positive research project, based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), which focuses on the health co-benefits of climate action. She highlighted the example of the Healthy Homes programme in Victoria, Australia, a well-evaluated project which resulted in great health and climate outcomes. Rosemary also shared an invitation for more case studies – take a look at the growing collection in Pathfinder’s Climate and Health Evidence Bank.

Networks, learning and influence

Another thread throughout the conference was the value of networks in this field. Kanza Ahmed, Consultant in Global Public Health at UKHSA, talked through key moments for health at recent climate COPs, and the potential for learning from international partners.

A panel session tackled the nuts and bolts of running regional climate-related networks for public health professionals and provided plenty of inspiration. A clear message was that networks need energy and commitment both to get off the ground and to keep momentum going, but the rewards make them worthwhile. Panellists spoke of the pleasure in seeing network members grow in knowledge and confidence, learning from and supporting each other, and feeling empowered to take action and contribute expertise across their local areas, bringing a health voice to forums focused on issues like transport and green infrastructure.

A second panel session took a refreshingly robust and practical line on fossil fuel advertising, described by Veronica Wignall of Adfree Cities as the “cultural surround sound” of adverts for flights and cars or fossil fuel company sponsorship. Amanda Pickard, Public Health Principal at Sheffield City Council, explained the process the local authority had gone through, developing an advertising policy that began looking at products with high fat, sugar and salt content, alcohol, and with a fossil fuel element added shortly before the policy was complete. Amanda reminded us that if national governments can’t or won’t take this kind of action, towns, cities and local authorities often can, and the public are broadly in favour. It’s “not about limiting what people do, it’s about limiting undue influence”.

(For more on this topic, visit the FPH website for its low carbon advertising policy brief.)

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Public health can lead the way

Throughout the day there were comments and reflections that highlighted the unique position of public health. Several people made the connection with previous work tackling tobacco advertising and the health impacts of smoking. Public health has a wealth of experience in dealing with vested interests and health. There is familiarity in the challenges and complexities of big business, politics and health inequality.

Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health, East Sussex County Council, drew a comparison with the obesity system map – a familiar illustration to public health professionals in the UK – which gives visibility to the complex nature of tackling obesity. Yes, the tackling of climate and health issues is complex, but public health has experience of tackling complex issues.

In a final panel session, Rebecca Masters of Public Health Wales made a compelling case for understanding the unique risks of your local area. While many of these issues feel global, their impact will be felt differently in each place. George Leahy also explored the idea of understanding your own unique contribution. Public health is made up of many individuals, each with different remits and skills.

And the rewards are there. We saw the co-benefits of climate action through the lens of public health – more sustainable, healthy diets, active travel, improved air quality. This is a public health issue and our public health colleagues are willing and able to respond.

The conference was organised by the small but mighty Sustainable Development Special Interest Group at the Faculty of Public Health.

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Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Review: The impact of climate change on fungal infections

This interesting review article, published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, explores how climate change is impacting the epidemiology of fungal infections.

Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are changing fungal growth and geographic distribution. Extreme weather events, particularly flooding, also leave people more vulnerable to infection.

The authors conclude that, “The clinical implications are profound, with increased morbidity, mortality, and the spread of fungal infections into new regions.”

• The impact of climate change on the epidemiology of fungal infections

RFP: Investigating climate change and fungal pathogens

With the previous review article fresh in my mind, I noticed that Wellcome has put out a request for proposals (RFP) for a contract to work on ‘Investigating the impacts of climate variability and climate change on fungal pathogens of public health importance’. (That’s going to need an acronym.)

Wellcome is looking for a supplier that can identify gaps in research, data and knowledge in this area – e.g. through coordinating a scientific advisory committee, conducting a literature review, and mapping resources that support research on climate and fungal pathogens. Expressions of interest due by 28th April.

Wellcome has also published an explainer article about fungi, human health and climate change.

• Wellcome RFP on climate change and fungal pathogens

• Will climate change lead to more fungal infections?

Research: Flooding and dementia risk

Climate change is contributing to an increase in flood events around the world. Floods can have a devastating effect on people’s mental and physical health.

A new study published in Nature’s Communications Medicine journal has used data from the UK Biobank to demonstrate that exposure to floods is a risk factor for incident dementia. This is an epidemiological study, so it doesn’t explore why this might be the case, but the findings are consistent with other research and some possible reasons have been put forward.

The stress, trauma and depression resulting from flooding may contribute to cognitive decline, as can the increased risk of social isolation due to having to evacuate to an unfamiliar area. There is also the possibility that exposure to pathogens or chemicals in flood water or after floods could contribute.

• UK biobank data show exposure to floods is a risk factor for incident dementia

Article and toolkit: Emissions in the pharmaceutical supply chain

A team from the Netherlands has worked on an analysis of global pharmaceutical greenhouse gas emissions. Their research paper is published in The Lancet Planetary Health.

They found that the pharmaceutical emissions footprint grew by 77% overall from 1995 to 2019. They call for action to reduce waste, improve efficiency and support mitigation.

In the UK, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is supporting pharmacy staff with their Greener Pharmacy Guides and Toolkit. RPS is hosting a webinar about the toolkit on 29th May, 7pm (UK), to support ‘pharmacy champions’ in community and hospital pharmacy settings to work towards sustainable pharmacy.

• Emissions from pharmaceutical consumption and production

• RPS Greener Pharmacy Toolkit

Guidance: Adverse Weather and Health Plan

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the new edition of its Adverse Weather and Health Plan. It is a key document for public sector and other organisations planning for resilience during adverse weather events in England, such as heatwaves, droughts and floods.

• Adverse Weather and Health Plan 2025/2026

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Funding: Adapting health and social care systems

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched a programme to fund research that, “addresses the challenges of climate change by building resilience into the delivery of health and social care services during severe weather events.”

The funding window for development awards is open until June. Applications for funding for research collaboration awards will open in September. (Want me on your team? Get in touch!)

• NIHR adaptation funding

Report and event: Sustainable health supply chains

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Unitaid have published a position paper setting out key priorities for action on sustainable supply chains for healthcare. It was published alongside the report of an expert consultation meeting held in October.

Linked to this, WHO and Unitaid are hosting an online technical meeting on 6th May, to “explore strategies, share success stories, and align on next steps”.

• Sustainable health supply chains

Online training: Integrating health into NDCs

WHO is offering two free training sessions on integrating health into national climate plans (the ‘nationally determined contributions’, or NDCs).

The online events will feature expert presentations on the processes involved, sharing of country experiences and a Q&A session.

The training sessions are on 7th May, with one session starting at 9.30am (Switzerland, CEST) in English with French and Arabic interpreters. The session will be repeated in the afternoon from 3pm, in English with French and Spanish interpreters.

• Integrating health into NDCs

Online event: Sustainability in Quality Improvement

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is hosting its annual showcase of sustainability in quality improvement (SusQI).

There will be insights on integrating sustainability into QI education, inspiring projects from Canada, Wales and the European KitNewCare team and lots more.

The free online event is planned for Tuesday 13th May, 2-4.30pm (UK).

• SusQI showcase event

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

The Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health is recruiting an executive director for the institute and the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), based in Baltimore/Washington DC.

The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources at UCL is recruiting a research fellow in climate policy and health to work on a project with the Greater London Authority. Apply by 22nd April.

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Association of Anaesthetists and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare are jointly recruiting into a national fellowship in environmentally sustainable anaesthesia. Apply by 22nd April.

The University of Oxford is recruiting a researcher in climate change attribution to work on a Wellcome-funded climate and health project. Apply by 14th May.

The climate and health team at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is recruiting for multiple roles based in Geneva.

Last but not least, the lovely people at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) in the UK are also recruiting for multiple roles. Apply by 1st May.

• Executive director (Planetary Health Alliance)

• Research fellow climate policy and health

• Fellow in environmentally sustainable anaesthesia

• Researcher in climate change attribution

• WMO climate and health roles

• CSH roles

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / what I’m watching / and I enjoyed Jon’s thoughts on being a bluebell.

Welcome to the new subscribers (and ongoing love to the old)! Please do feel free to share this with anyone you think would find it useful, interesting, inspiring, soothing...and do get in touch with any feedback. Here’s what caught my eye this month.

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Inspiration: The Green Maternity Challenge

If you're in need of some grassroots, frontline inspiration, I recommend you take a look at the results of the Green Maternity Challenge. In just 16 weeks, nine teams from different parts of the NHS worked on projects to reduce carbon emissions, while addressing health inequalities and improving patient care in maternity services. Win-win-win!

The next Challenge programme run by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) is the Green Nursing Challenge – you'll need to be quick if you want to take part, as applications are due in by Friday 21st March.

• Green Maternity Challenge results

• Green Nursing Challenge

• Work with CSH on a Green Team competition in your organisation

Research: Reducing emissions from anaesthesia without impacting care

Inhaled anaesthetics are well known for having a significant greenhouse gas impact and a number of projects have focused on making changes to agents and delivery systems. But it can be concerning to people that changing anaesthesia for environmental reasons might mean sub-standard care. Not so! A new study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health in February, focuses on the patient safety outcomes of a green anaesthesia project in Michigan, USA.

The team looked at data from people who had general anaesthetic in the year before a change was introduced and in the year after (over 90,000 patients in total). Carbon emissions reduced by over 14kg per person, with no detriment to patient outcomes (e.g. pain, nausea or awareness). Over a year, this carbon reduction is the equivalent of (not) driving 1.7 million miles in a car. Astonishing.

• Environmental and patient safety outcomes of a health-system Green Anesthesia Initiative

Research: Climate impacts on young people's health

A youth co-led study conducted in Bangladesh, Guatemala and Nigeria, published in BMJ Global Health, highlights the effects climate change is having on young people's health.

Focus group discussions with almost 200 people aged between 12 and 25 explored experiences and perceptions of climate change, including through events like flooding, extreme heat and drought. Themes included impacts on food security, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health.

• How climate change is shaping young people’s health

Article: Sustainable use of medicinal plants

I love it when I stumble on a whole new field of fascinating work – and in this case, a new word, ‘pharmacognosy’.

This paper in Frontiers in Pharmacology introduced me to the issues climate change poses for medicinal plants. Changes in weather patterns impact plants and pollinators, while humans also have an impact through land-use change and overharvesting plants. The authors argue that strategies for preserving these plant populations are urgently needed, especially for those which are harvested from the wild or from traditional growing systems. They present case studies of seven vulnerable plant species from different parts of the world and propose a framework that promotes conservation and sustainable use.

• Climate change and the sustainable use of medicinal plants

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Report: NHS England Health and Climate Adaptation

Last week, NHS England published its fourth Health and Climate Adaptation Report. It recognises that the impacts of climate change are likely to be unequally distributed, worsening health inequalities.

Adaptation is interesting. Yes, we must reduce carbon emissions, as much as we can and as fast as we can. But climate change is already underway and will continue. We need to prepare and adapt for that future – at the same time as we decarbonise. I’m sure that, given the space to think about adaptation, people working in healthcare would revolutionise the systems they work in – tackling decarbonisation and health inequalities in one fell swoop.

The new report focuses on three key areas, giving updates on progress and recommendations: health information systems; service delivery and infrastructure; and leadership, workforce and resourcing.

• NHS England Health and Climate Adaptation Report

Feature: What can qualitative research tell us about extreme weather events?

A review published in the journal SSM – Qualitative Research in Health looks at the evidence on people’s experiences of climate change events. It focuses on studies in the UK, but makes the case for the inclusion of qualitative research more widely in the climate change and health field.

• Summary: Qualitative research adds depth to understanding of climate and health impacts

• Journal article: Qualitative synthesis detailing the conjuncture of social structure, extreme weather, and mental health

News: UKRI funds research hubs on net zero and health

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have announced they will fund seven transdisciplinary research hubs. The hubs will focus on health and health inequalities as the UK moves towards net zero.

Research will be focused across five areas: transport and the built environment; the indoor environment; sustainable diets; extreme weather; and decarbonising health and social care.

Congratulations to all concerned! Looks like some really interesting work ahead. (Get in touch if I can help!)

• £42m funding to ensure health is central to net zero strategies

Online event: Integrating climate and health policies

The Global Climate and Health Alliance is hosting an online briefing with George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. It will explore research findings from a project that spanned six world regions, looking at barriers and strategies for integrating climate change and health policies.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday 19th March at 2pm (UK).

• Integrating climate and health policies online event

Online events: Public health and climate change

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is hosting a conference on ‘Climate change, public health and local action’. It is taking place in London, but will be live-streamed free online.

It is the annual conference of the Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health and there are lots of interesting speakers and topics. The conference is scheduled for Monday 31st March, 9.30am-5pm (UK).

Separately, the Royal Society for Public Health is hosting a free online event entitled, ‘How are climate opportunities public health opportunities?’ The speaker is Dr Pedro Beltran-Alvarez, Senior Lecturer at Hull York Medical School. The webinar is scheduled for 1pm (UK) on Thursday 3rd April.

• Climate change, public health and local action conference

• Climate and public health opportunities online event

Opportunities: Climate and health roles

Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation is recruiting a Communication and Events Trainee (Climate Change and Mental Health), supporting the Climate Cares Centre. The traineeship will run for 12 weeks, full-time, from July. Apply by 30th March.

The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is recruiting ‘Nature Recovery Rangers’ to lead local conservation and green space engagement activities at NHS sites. Sounds amazing! Apply by 6th April.

• Communication and Events Trainee (Climate Change and Mental Health)

• Nature Recovery Rangers

What else is catching my eye?

Here’s what I’m reading / where I’ve been hanging out lately / where I’m headed this month (by train).