Sustainable social care programme
Climate change, carbon reduction, health and social care
The health implications of climate change are already in evidence and impact more greatly on vulnerable groups. The inter-linkages between climate change and health include temperature-related illness and death, flood-related injuries and death, air pollution, increase in water and food-borne diseases and vector and rodent-borne diseases, and food and water shortages. Climate-enforced migration is anticipated. Urgent and dramatic action is required to reduce carbon emissions and to implement measures to adapt to changing conditions.
The August 2003 heat wave was associated with a large short-term increase in mortality. Overall, there were 2,139 (16 per cent) excess deaths in England and Wales. Worst affected were people over the age of 75 years. The impact was greatest in London where deaths in those over the age of 75 increased by 59 per cent.
For advice, see SCIE Guide 15: Dignity in Care (Nutritional Care – Hydration)
Flooding increases the risk of depression fourfold. Mental health disorders are already the single largest cost to the NHS, representing 12 per cent of expenditure.
The Climate Change Act (2008) includes the duty to reduce the carbon level in the UK by at least 26 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050. An average county council produces 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, but its local community can generate 10 million tonnes. Councils therefore must not only lead by example but facilitate action where the greatest savings can be made. For example, 28 per cent of emissions are generated by transport and 27 per cent by domestic users (data from The Carbon Trust).
How will climate change affect services in London?
Are you a voluntary sector organisation supporting disabled Londoners or those with mental health needs? Here’s a unique - and free - opportunity to take part in a project to explore how climate change will affect life in London, and what this will mean for your service users and the work you do. Project start date: 11 January. Click here to find out more.
For further information and resources for local government and the NHS regarding climate change and carbon reduction, visit:
- Climate change - a quick guide, Directgov
- A climate of change: final report of the LGA Climate Commission (LGA 2007)
- The Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
For further information on climate change and health, visit:
- SCIE At a glance 23: Sustainable social care: climate change
- UCL Lancet Commission 2009
- Health effects of climate change in the UK 2008: an update of the Department of Health report 2001/2002
- Older People and Climate Change: the Case for Better Engagement, Stockholm Environment Institute, Project Report - 2010
Along with all Government Departments, the Department of Health has published plans for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
