Health Warning: The impacts of climate change on public health

The health impact of climate extremes has been highlighted in a new report featuring academics from the Priestley International Centre for Climate.

Published in partnership with the Climate Coalition, the report includes research analysis by Dr Jenny Armstrong, Dr Ben Rabb and Priestley PhD researcher Bianca van Bavel.

Their contribution focuses on temperature and extreme heat, and precipitation and flooding.

Around 2,500 people lost their lives as a result of a series of heatwaves in 2020.

Dr Rabb, an Impact Translation Fellow for the Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) is working to translate environmental science to help the region adapt and increase resilience to climate change.

He said: “During the COVID-19 pandemic it’s easy to lose sight of the impact climate change is already having on the health and wellbeing of people in the UK. Around 2,500 people lost their lives as a result of a series of heatwaves in 2020.

“We also saw the wettest month and individual day last year – leading to widespread flooding across the country.”

This report comes with a health warning, has been published as part of the Climate Coalition’s annual Show The Love campaign.

The Climate Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change. It comprises over 140 organisations — including the National Trust, WWF, Women’s Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB — and is 22 million voices strong.