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Climate Resilience: Health and Wellbeing

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Climate Resilience: Health and Wellbeing

Have your say on how we can address existing health inequalities and reduce the risk of climate change and nature's decline adversely affecting the health of people living in the region.

Introduction

We recognise that the climate and ecological crisis that we face will increasingly impact on our health and wellbeing and disproportionately affect more vulnerable communities. We need to acknowledge that the climate and ecological crisis is a public health crisis and we need a transformational change in our social, economic and environmental systems.

Below you will find a draft paper, bringing together the themes, thoughts and existing research and informed by our Delivering Impact session on this topic, setting out actions we can take in the region for a just, healthy transition in the face of climate change.

Please read the paper and give us your views in the short survey below.

Climate_Resilience_-_Health_and_Wellbeing_draft_paper_mmlc7m.pdf

pdf

About the paper

The draft paper brings in ideas and expertise from our Commissioners, research, and experts who are tackling the problem across the country, in the region, and on the ground. You can watch the expert speaker session on this topic in the video at the foot of this page.

At this stage, the paper might not give the full picture so we would really value your feedback. The ideas we are discussing affect everyone - we want to know what you think. Please give your responses in the survey below.

Key messages

The paper outlines a number of ways we become more adaptive and resilience to climate change whilst enabling a just and healthy transition including:

Create a regional Lancet countdown to provide clear indicators of progress towards climate readiness and whether this is being achieved in a just and equitable way.
Support Integrated Care Boards to integrate adaptation pathways into the regional health system.
Work with existing community groups, primary care practitioners and schools to increase awareness and understanding of climate related health risks.
Increase opportunities for improving access to, and use of, quality green space and connection with nature.
Develop case studies of positive progress showcasing where health and wellbeing is being improved through well-planned climate adaptation measures.

What we would like to know

We would like your input to challenge and shape the ideas set out in this first draft.

We are keen to hear from experts on different aspects of health and wellbeing to ensure rigour in our interpretation of the science and social factors underpinning this paper.

We are equally keen to hear the views of people who live and work in Yorkshire and Humber to ensure our final position paper and actions address the needs of people and communities across the region.

How important do you feel this issue is?

Not important

Very important

How confident are you that this issue is currently being addressed in our region?

Not at all confident

Very confident

In what capacity are you responding?

Select one option

Add something else

If you are responding in a professional capacity, which of these best describes the organisation you work for?

Select one option

Add something else

Why do you think this issue is important for Yorkshire and Humber?

Select one option

Add something else

To what extent do you think enough is happening now to address this issue within Yorkshire and Humber?

Not enough

Enough

Do you think it's possible to do more to address this issue in Yorkshire and Humber without significant changes in national policies?

Not at all possible

Definitely possible

Do you agree with the themes highlighted for improving our regional health and wellbeing in the context of climate change? (Select all the ones you agree with. If you have suggestions of others, please tell us)

Select one or more options

Add something else

Which of these actions do you think are most important in enabling us to address this issue within Yorkshire and the Humber?

Sort in order of importance, with most important at the top.

How confident do you feel that the issue would be addressed if the proposals set out in this report were adopted?

Not at all confident

Very confident

Have we missed anything that could help address this issue?

Should anything in the paper be removed or changed?

What other suggestions do you have about regional actions that could help improve health and wellbeing in the face of climate impacts?

If you have any relevant resources you'd like to share with us, please upload them here

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Watch this video if you are interested in watching the full recording of the expert panel presentations on health and wellbeing. Watching this video is optional and if you do not want to watch, simply click 'next' to submit your survey.

We heard from four expert speakers in our Delivering Impact Session on 9th July 2023, each presenting their perspectives on how we can transition to a climate resilient region in a just and healthy way. The speakers, panel and other attendees then discussed the opportunities and the actions we could take as a region.

The connections between climate change and health inequality, and the issue of co-benefits of climate actions: who benefits and who loses out?
Professor Hilary Graham, University of York
Climate resilience for health and wellbeing: Reflections and implications from the Lancet Countdown
Professor Elizabeth J Z Robinson, Director of the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science
Environment and health equityJoe Swift, Public Health and Air Quality Team, Environment Agency
Climate and health in education
Dr Pedro Beltran-Alvarez, Centre for Biomedicine, Hull York Medical School

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Climate Resilience: Health and Wellbeing