Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Climate Change

Potential impacts of climate change

The Department of Health is responsible for ensuring better health and well-being for all.  The potential impacts of climate change on human health are multiple and diverse.

Hotter drier summers, milder wetter winters, and more frequent extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves, as described by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) could mean:

  • a decrease in cold-related winter deaths and an increase in heat-related summer deaths
  • increased cases of food poisoning and insect borne diseases
  • increased cases of sun burning and skin cancer if people spend more time in the sun.

The Department of Health published a report together with the Health Protection Agency titled, the Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK, 2008, which sets out the various health effects facing the UK from climate change.

Our Climate change priorities

Climate change is already happening and it will take time to influence the factors that cause climate change.  The Department of Health’s top three priorities for adaptation policies are:

  • adapting the health and social care infrastructure ((hospitals, nursing homes) to be more resilient to the effects of climate change
  • to ensure that national and local adaptation plans exist for the expected health impacts from climate change, and that these plans are fully implemented, with regular evaluation to ensure they remain effective
  • to increase awareness amongst the public and the medical profession of the health impacts of climate change, and what to do to reduce and adapt to them.

Heat waves

The Department of Health developed a National Heatwave Plan which was first launched in 2004 and is updated yearly based upon the latest available evidence. This contains guidance for the health and social care sector on protecting vulnerable people from the effects of heat and on how local authorities can keep urban areas cool. A traffic light ‘Heat-Health Watch’ system operates in England during the summer months.

Flooding

The Department produced various guidance from its Health Emergency Preparedness Division on dealing with disruptive challenges and managing incidents including from flooding. Recently issued NHS Business Continuity Management guidance provide trusts with guidance on how to complete business impact analysis to help mitigate against risks.

The Cabinet Office has further specific information on the flooding in the summer 2007:

Raising awareness of climate change

The South East Regional Public Heath Group produced guidance for DH on climate change and promoting sustainable communities for the health sector. The documents outline key mitigation and adaptation policies and also suggest a code for reducing our carbon footprint.

Current NHS climate change work

The NHS is working towards mandatory energy and carbon efficiency targets (from 2000 to 2010) and key performance indicators [of 35-55 gigajoules per 100 cubic meters (Gj/100m3)] for new capital build developments and refurbishments, and [55-65 Gj/100m3 for] the existing operational estate.

The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy was launched on 29 May 2008 for consultation and sets out ways that this reduction can be achieved.

Additional links

World Health Organisation

The UK’s request for a resolution on ‘climate change and health’ was accepted by the World Health Executive Board and agreed at the World Health Assembly in May 2008.

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