Climate change action will improve health now and in the future

A new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Society highlights measures needed now on climate change that they believe will improve health, saving lives now and in the future. The report urges policymakers and funders to put health benefits at the top of climate change discussions, debates and action.

The key areas include:

• Food production and diet

  Continuing to reduce meat consumption whilst increasing the consumption of vegetables and fruit.

• Phasing out fossil fuels

  Air pollution is linked to between 28,000 and 36,000 premature deaths a year

• Travel

  Domestic transport mainly from road vehicles is responsible for an estimated 27% of greenhouse gas emissions here in the U.K and fine particle emissions are a huge problem so switching to electric vehicles will help. Encouraging walking and cycling could help to improve many health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.

• Buildings

  Better insulated buildings will lower emissions and improving air quality inside buildings would dramatically improve health.