Planetary and Population Health Research Group
Planetary health and human health are interconnected. There is an urgent need for the health and care community to take action to protect the planet as part of securing the current and future health of patients and the public.
All healthcare has a carbon cost, and health and care systems are one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, so, it is essential that all health professionals understand the impact of the interventions they provide on the environment, the effects of climate change on human health and the actions they can take to provide more sustainable healthcare.
Climate science is well established: the latest Lancet Countdown report tracked the links between health and climate change. Its findings reaffirm that globally, climate change is exacerbating food insecurity, health impacts from extreme heat, the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, and life-threatening extreme weather events.
The burden of disease attributable to the environment is high and persistent, with a healthy environment vital for human health and development. In 2016 the World Health Organisation estimated that 24% of global deaths are due to modifiable environmental factors.
Meeting the target of global warming no more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2100 requires immediate and coordinated action. Research is a critical element of sustainable professional practice, and transdisciplinary research is essential to co-ordinate and evaluate planetary health.
The effects of climate change are experienced disproportionately and the risks to younger, older and poorer populations are becoming evident. Climate mitigation also demands a critical approach to social justice, with the global south most affected by climate.
International and national research collaborations will focus on population health, and co-production of strategies to mitigate and measure the effects of climate change and implement local innovations and local support for sustainability.
Partnership with the research group will reflect a focus on population health and wellbeing and the sharing of data and information to inform the wider community, including the NHS Green Plan Working Group (Cams and Peterborough ICB) and the national strategies to support healthcare education on sustainability.
Current work
- Completing applications for external funding (NIHR, UKRI).
- Undertaking PhD recruitment and development.
- Holding a regional seminar, Sustainable Workforce Planning in the East of England.
- Recruitment of International Honorary and Visiting professors.
