Better Health For All

So here I am on the train to Glasgow, on my way to COP 26, which started earlier this week and ends on 12^th November 2021.

I am excited to be one of the FPH group with ‘observer’ status, so able to attend the main conference where negotiations take place, though I suspect many actually take place in whatever is the 2021 equivalent of ‘smoke filled rooms’! Or in fact have already taken place prior to coming to Glasgow.

 By the way COP stands for Conference of the Parties of the UKFCCC, which is the international mechanism to address climate change across 197 countries.

The first two days of COP is when the world leaders attend and many of them have made declarations as to what action their countries will take to address climate change and cut emissions, in order to reach no more than 1.5 degrees, as agreed at the Paris COP in 2015. Unfortunately the plans (NDCs) currently in place will still not go far enough or fast enough, so hence the urgently at this COP to get countries to sign up to increased targets and faster action. The science has shown that action is NOW really urgent.

The following days of the Presidents Programme are devoted to specific topics, so yesterday was on finance and today is on energy. You will have seen in the news various reports from yesterday with announcements about the financial sector agreeing to take action on fossil fuel investment, though clarity is needed on exactly what it means in practice. There were also announcements about engagement of the private sector to help finance climate action I think to the tune of $ trillions,

For the first time there is a ‘health pavilion’ at this COP and very many of the international health community are attending (including ourselves from FPH) to make the case for health being part of the agenda and that there are already major impacts on health, both direct and indirect, due to climate change. But also to demonstrate that health can be part of the solution; both health systems – the greener NHS is a strong example – and we anticipate a number of other countries may announce similar initiatives during COP. But also climate action can also improve health- for example active travel, with increased cycling and walking, reduces emissions, reduces air pollution (improving health) and improves physical activity, which improves people’s health.

Similarly more plant based, sustainable food is better for people and better for the planet.

But we are also here to remind everyone that there is a climate justice / health equity issue, both across the UK and globally. The most vulnerable are likely to be hit hardest by climate change – poor housing is least resilient to higher temperatures or flooding and internationally global south has contributed least to the current emissions but are already feeling the impact of climate change with increased extreme weather and its sever impacts.

So what do I expect to do at COP?

• Hopefully contribute to that health voice, both informally and collectively in speaking to country delegates. Or really just anyone who might listen

• Certainly listen and learn both from other countries and from other sectors such as energy and transport. We, in public health, need to hear where they are coming from and what language they use and see how our agenda on health and inequalities etc. can fit in and contribute to what they want to achieve. That way we can work together for a win win.

• Feel the buzz of collaborating with the international health community working together to address climate change and all its health ramifications

That will do for now.  

Sue Atkinson

4.11.21 at COP 26 in Glasgow