The Faculty has long been active on issues of climate and health and obtained observer status at COP26. Throughout COP26, Faculty members posted blogs sharing their reflections of the event. You can read these here.
FPH submitted a health-focused statement to the UNFCC secretariat to represent the health voice, working with other health observer organisations at COP who endorsed/were signatories to the statement.
The Faculty of Public Health declared a climate emergency in November 2019.
FPH Climate and Health Conference 2022 resources
In September 2022, the Faculty hosted an international Climate and Health Conference to support our action on climate change, and to bring together public health professionals from across the UK and overseas to discuss matters related to climate change, environmental protection, and sustainability. Access the resources and recordings from the conference here.
Members' briefing
On 27 October 2021 FPH held a members' briefing for COP26. The slide-pack is available for download here.
What is Public Health's Role in tackling the Climate Emergency? (Report of webinar)
In September our Climate and Health Committee and our Sustainable Development SIG held their event 'What is Public Health's Role in tackling the Climate Emergency?'.
A report of the event can be accessed here. It reflects on the diverse range of public health expertise that our members contributed to the event, with discussions held on a broad base of climate-related topics.
FPH reaction to the 2021 Spending Review
In FPH's reaction to the 2021 Spending Review we expressed our concerns of the lack of green financing and the apparent inconsistency in the spending review by halving air passenger duty for domestic flights and the freezing of fuel duties just as COP26 got underway in Glasgow.
Read the Faculty's representation to the Comprehensive Spending Review here.
FPH statement on the Leaders Summit on Climate: Health and equity must be at the heart of the UK's climate policy
In April 2021, the Faculty called on government to ensure that health and equity are at the heart of the UK's climate policy. Read the statement here.
Useful resources:
FPH resources
Overview of climate change negotiations and self-paced learning (good for CPD)
General information regarding COP26
- UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021
- UK Health Alliance on Climate Change - What is COP26?
- United Nations Climate Change - Glasgow Climate Change Conference
- UN COP26 - What is a COP?
UK COP26 goals
Various programmes at COP26
- Presidency Programme
- Presidency Programme COP26 PDF
- The World Leaders Summit at COP26
- COP26 Event map
Green zone programme
The Global Climate & Health Alliance resources
- GCHA public health calendar
- GCHA COP26 briefing October 2021: recording of the event and related links
World Health Organization report - the health argument for Climate Change
World Health Organization #HealthyClimate prescription letter and delivery (cycling links)
- WHO's Health Argument for Climate Action
- Health professionals cycling from London to Glasgow carrying the #HealthyClimatePrescription letter and the WHO's 'Health Argument for Climate Action'
- Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Head of the WHO Climate Change and Health Unit, cycling from Geneva to London to deliver both documents to the doctors. Follow Diarmid's journey on Twitter and Ride for their Lives
The Global Climate & Health Alliance Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Scorecard
Lancet Countdown Report
The Guardian
- 'Counter climate summit kicks off as activists lament COP26 inaction', Nina Lakhani (Article)
Health Policy Watch
- 'Children's health hit hardest by climate change - but cleaner air, greener cities and healthier foods can create cascade of benefits', Elaine Ruth Fletcher (Article)
Thomson Reuters Foundation News
- 'Stronger climate action urged at COP26 to avoid 'unimaginable' health risks', Laurie Goering (Article)
People's Health Hearing (Sunday 7 November 2021)
Specific events of 'health' interest
- Future Proof: Health Systems for a Healthy Planet (Friday 5 November 2021)
- From Eco-Anxiety to Agency: A 'How-To' Workshop (Sunday 7 November 2021)
- Washing Up: Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Monday 8 November 2021)
Additional resources
- ‘Zero Hour’ campaign group presented the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill at Downing street. The campaign, which UKHACC has endorsed, is calling for three outcomes from COP26 - a joint emergency strategy for climate & nature, a commitment to the carbon budget for 1.5 oC and for The UK to be 'nature positive' by 2030. For more information read UKHACC Director Elaine Mulcahy’s latest blog
- In a UK policy briefing published alongside the global report, UKHACC, RCOG and RCPCH identify three areas for urgent government action to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to protect health for all, and specifically maternal and child health. These are: Air pollution limits, heatwave planning, and an end to all government subsidies for fossil fuels
