Better Health For All

We held the inaugural meeting of the new FPH Climate and Health Committee on 10th September 2020. Of course like everything else these days it was held remotely by zoom. Slightly strange doing ‘introductions’ around the ‘screen’ rather than round the room, but we have all now got quite used to this way of working. The President came to welcome all the new members and offer her support, which was great – thank you Maggie.

The Board had agreed this new committee at the February board meeting in the recognition that climate change and health is both the biggest threat but also the biggest opportunity of the century. That was before Covid-19 arrived and sent us all (across the globe) into turmoil and for much of the time into lockdown. I write this as we head into the ‘second wave’ and we may all be in lockdown again by the time this is published, but I will try not to get diverted onto Covid!

Importantly Covid has impacted on public health professionals and hence our decision to delay the first meeting of the Climate and Health Committee (C&HC) until now.

I think it was the right decision. We have learned a lot through Covid impacts. It has demonstrated how rapidly change can happen if it needs to and people see the imperative – that in itself is a useful lesson for the necessary change for a sustainable planet. It has also heightened peoples’ awareness of inequalities and BAME issues, of the importance of nature and the environment and physical activity for peoples’ mental as well as physical health. All good PH issues. We agreed to build in more about the environment and biodiversity into the committee’s Terms of Reference

So the first meeting of C&HC was a lively affair with good discussions and challenge about a number of topics. Of course it is early days and much of the meeting was ground setting – such as briefly outlining what the FPH has already done on climate change (CC) and sustainability. There was a recognition that the FPH needs to be more proactive on CC and sustainable development (SD).

The work of the committee will build on the good work already being undertaken by the SD SIG and by other SIGs, such as transport and food. We will aim to utilise the mass of expertise on CC and SD held by our members by working closely with SIGs and other FPH committees and would welcome any offers of support and help.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were floated as a potential ‘framework’ for a Climate and Health strategy and action plan, and whilst we recognise there is some criticism of some of the SDGs, overall we thought they were worth exploring further. We need to look also at the key roles of the FPH – as an organisation – in standards and training –and as an advocate for the public’s health, and consider what actions the FPH should take and what needs to be prioritised.

One of the big issues for us is knowing what would be most helpful for the FPH to do to support members – both trainees and existing consultants and DPHs – in respect of taking action and moving the climate and health agenda forward. And we are only too aware of how busy most members are dealing with aspects of Covid. So any suggestions gratefully received. I guess if you are busy with Covid etc you may not even have time to read and respond to this blog! But if you are reading this and do have thoughts on what FPH should do on the CC agenda then please email Sue Atkinson as Chair.

An update from the SD SIG on its work on the opportunities in recovery from Covid-19 showed that a statement on this will be coming shortly. Also ‘watch this space’ on Net Zero NHS (greening the NHS) as Nick Watts, the newly appointed NHS Chief Sustainability Officer (and a member of the FPH and the C&HC) updated us on their work. We also received an update on the PHE changes into the NIHP (National Institute of Health Protection) and how these may impact PHE’s work on CC and SD and related topics such as air quality. The FPH will need to keep a close eye on these changes.

As a committee, our first action was to recommend that FPH support an open letter calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council to recognise the universal human right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. FPH signed the letter, and we would encourage FPH members to support the call.

We still need, on the committee, reps from practitioner and from associate members and from ADPH. So if anyone wants to volunteer or has any suggestions or wants to be involved please get in touch.

So much food for thought and much work still to be done. A huge thank you to the members of the committee for great and helpful discussion. Thank you also to Helen Johnston who is the SpR supporting the C&HC through the FPH project scheme, and we will hope to continue this attachment into the future, and of course, thank you to Julian Ryder, from the FPH who is supporting the C&HC. I look forward to working with you all as we progress this important work for the FPH.

… watch this space.

Sue Atkinson
Chair, FPH Climate and Health Committee