Climate change “is greatest threat to health and wellbeing Wales will face this century”, says new report

Climate change is the “greatest threat to health and wellbeing that Wales will face this century.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

That is the view of Public Health Wales, which has today published a report on the health and wellbeing impacts of climate change across Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Last year saw UK temperatures break new records with Lincolnshire recording a new high of 40.3C on July 19. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Several weather stations across the UK also hit their highest ever temperatures – which coincided with low levels of rainfall and drought status being declared. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Temperature records continue to be shattered this week across Europe, China and the US as extraordinary levels of heat sweeps in. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As the climate continues to change, extreme weather events such as flash flooding, strong winds and soaring temperatures are set to become more common. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Public Health Wales’ ‘Health Impact Assessment’ outlines how changes to the climates, such as wetter weather in the winter, flooding, coastal erosion, and drier, hotter summers will have significant impacts on physical, mental and social health and wellbeing such as increasing heat related illness, mental health problems as a result of experiencing flooding, and disruption to essential services. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Whilst the health of the whole population will be impacted by climate change in some way, there are groups who are likely to be more vulnerable to negative health and wellbeing impacts, says Public Health Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This includes older adults, children and young people, people with long term health conditions, people in certain occupation groups (such as outdoor workers), people living by the coast, and those living on a low income. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The report suggests that action on adaptation needs to go beyond responses to individual episodes of extreme weather (which will become more frequent). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Long-term, preventative solutions are needed that adapt policy, housing, the living environment, and individual behaviours, with the aim of preserving quality of life and wellbeing for all. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Public participation in policy and planning for the future needs to be strengthened, and we need to build more support to help communities to prepare, respond and recover from flooding, coastal erosion, and other environmental impacts. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Dr Sumina Azam, National Director of Policy and International Health/Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being said: “More action is urgently needed across Wales to adapt the environments in which people live, work, play and learn to protect health and wellbeing in the face of climate change”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liz Green, Programme Director for Health Impact Assessment in Public Health Wales said: “Organisations and communities in Wales have major role to play in creating a Wales that is resilient and protecting our precious natural environment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“By working together and ensuring that adaptation is included in the plans and policies of organisations now, we can make a difference to the health and wellbeing of current and future generations”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan added: “We know that climate change isn’t something that will happen in the future – it’s happening now and we can feel its effects in Wales today. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is an important piece of work by Public Health Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We can all take small steps to tackle the impact of climate change but ultimately, we need everyone – government, the public sector, businesses and the public – to work together to make Wales more resilient to the changing climate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I urge health and social care colleagues and the wider public sector to use this HIA to inform and enhance their approach to adaptation planning.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Everyone in Wales has an important role to play in reducing carbon emissions – and this can have major benefits for our health including improving air quality, increasing physical activity through active travel, building community resilience, increasing access to biodiverse natural environments, and eating a healthy, sustainable diet. You can find useful tips here. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Pictured: Flash flooding in New Broughton ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​