"I'm scared for my own life and future. I'm absolutely terrified for that of my son."
Professor Hugh Montgomery OBE
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Key points from the briefing
Dealing with climate change is no longer about “risk” - it is about survival. The health hazards are escalating so fast that they will impact the survival of people alive today.
The evidence shows the situation is worsening year after year. The Lancet Countdown tracks 20 indicators of the health hazards of climate change. In the latest report, 12 of 20 broke records.
The real killer is the breakdown of our systems. Heat, floods and fires do not just cause illness - they destabilise food supplies and economies. Without a functioning economy and food security, you cannot run a health service.
We are already haemorrhaging economic capacity. Extreme weather is causing financial losses at astonishing speed, and major economic loss means no NHS, no education system and no resilience.
Taking action on climate change is the biggest health opportunity of our lifetime. Policies on clean air, active travel, warm homes and plant-rich diets will cut emissions and disease together, making the NHS more sustainable.
The potential savings are huge. Tackling obesity alone could save the UK around £126 billion every year.
Without action, the hazards are catastrophic. The climate emergency is a health emergency, and we must treat it as one.
