GPs to tackle climate change

Friday, November 27, 2009

Doctors across the world must play their part in the fight against climate change, the newly formed International Climate and Health Council has urged.

The Council aims to rally health professionals around the globe to warn of the health impacts of climate change and has been developed to raise 'health' on the agenda of December's UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen.

A Lancet report about the health benefits of reducing climate change was also launched earlier this week on November 25th.

Of the report, Vivienne Nathanson, BMA director of professional activities said: "It clearly shows that taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can have positive impacts for health." But she added that the BMA was disappointed health had not so far figured significantly on the agenda for the Copenhagen summit and called on world leaders to seek solutions that benefit the environment and individuals.

BMA council chairman Hamish Meldrum and Professor Sir Kenneth Calman will both sit on the council.

Health minister Andy Burnham, in support of the Lancet report said: "Climate change can seem a distant, impersonal threat [however] the associated costs to health are a very real and present danger. Health ministers across the globe must act now to highlight the risk global warning poses to the health of our communities."