A much needed call to action – the launch of the Global Heat Health Resilience statement

Chantal Babb de Villiers

25 June 2024
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Climate change poses a major health threat. Not only are temperatures becoming more intense, periods of heat are occurring for longer, and more frequently. This is putting everyone at risk of heat exposure. Populations such as pregnant women, children, people with illness and the elderly are particularly vulnerable for heat related illnesses. It is not only intense heat but also the steady increase in overall temperatures that are having an impact by, for example, changing allergy seasons and affecting food production. This is a threat we are in the midst of, and will only intensify year on year.

The consequences and impacts of climate change are happening now and efforts to stop and deal with them are needed. Yet there is very little progress to address this. That I walked past a group of climate change protestors outside Westminster to attend the launch of a consensus statement to address this problem is a testament as to how strongly many are feeling the urgency to have climate change addressed. 

To draw more attention to the impact of heat on health The Physiology Society, along with organisations from across the scientific, health and policy spectrum launched a consensus statement on a Roadmap to Global Heat Health Resilience on 12 June at the House of Lords. The statement reflects and distils many of the complex problems we began to examine in our November 2023 report Heat, health and human genetics and has our support. 

The consensus statement and the signatories  – which the PHG Foundation will shortly be joining – are calling on governments and agencies to recognise the challenge that rising temperatures are presenting to human health and the impact they have across a range of policy areas. It outlines the urgent need for the development of heat resilience strategies to focus on medium- and long-term preparation for rising heat, with coordinated activity at local, national and international levels. One such strategy that was mentioned a few times during the panel discussion is determining guidelines for exposure to high temperatures, particularly for workers. With a new government and many new MPs incoming, the statement’s launch is the ideal time to ensure early engagement with Parliament. 

The need to coordinate, collaborate and foster transdisciplinary research

The event showcased cutting-edge research and innovative approaches to tackling the impacts of heat on health and well-being. The diversity of organisations present at the launch demonstrated how multidisciplinary and far-reaching this challenge is. The variety of perspectives and the depth of expertise present demonstrates the potential of the cross sectoral alliances to tackle this issue, as well as their conviction to be involved. What was evident at the full-house turnout for the launch was that there is an appreciation for the health impacts from increasing temperatures, and that action is needed to address this at a policy level. The effects of climate change related heat on health is complex and will require transdisciplinary collaboration between all these sectors. This is highlighted in the statement calling for coordination, collaboration and the fostering of transdisciplinary research to take place. Having the much needed strategic and policy leadership would guide priorities and support collaboration between these groups. 

Action is needed

The complex interdependencies between sectors, that will require a joint, interdisciplinary approach, were also emphasised in a recent Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) briefing “Public health impacts of heat” (POSTnote 723). Climate scientists have been raising alarms for decades, yet progress has been slow. At the launch of the Roadmap there were a number of sectors (such as construction and energy suppliers) and disciplines (researchers, analysts, clinicians, academics) that are active in this area, want to understand and support further progress in tackling impact of climate change on health or are seeking ways to increase their activity or promotion of this important topic. Our role – as individuals living on this planet and as subject experts – is to continue to draw attention to climate change, tackling of the causes and to demand and implement action to mitigate the effects as well as support adaptation efforts.

 

Additional reading for those interested  

Apart from this vital consensus statement a number of valuable reports looking at increasing temperatures from climate change and health have been released over the last year and include:
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Heat, health and human genetics
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