December newsletter
Climate chaos is the most important global public health issue of the 21st century. In the UK, carbon emissions need to reduce from the current average of 10 tonnes to 2 tonnes per head by 2030 - at the latest. The issues are finally coming up the agenda in the NHS. But our purpose must be to change social norms – amongst policy-makers, communities and citizens, so that living sustainably becomes ‘normal’. Discourse and mobilisation need to be maintained strongly until sustainable actions become routine.
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The momentum for change is building, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change synthesis report published this month, and governments meeting in Bali to negotiate on the UN Convention (we just hope the carbon footprint of the Bali conference is justified by the outcome ...). The Climate and Health Council submitted a declaration to the UK delegation on climate change and health.
New website and your permission to list your name
The Convergence of Health and Sustainable Development Network now has a new website - www.healthandsustainability.net The manifesto, our newsletters, and key links are on there. It is still under development so please let us know what you would like added. We plan to develop it over the coming months and a number of resources will be going on shortly.
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We have listed organisational signatories on the website. We will be putting the list of individual signatories on the website on 11th January. This will include your name, title and organisation but no other contact details. If you don’t want your name included can you email Alison Hill by 11th January?
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Our manifesto is now uploaded on the Faculty's Sustainable Development e-group site - do please register as a member of the e-group, which we can use for interactive communication. See www.fph.org.uk.
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Date for your diary: Climate Change Speaker training on 14th March in London
We have arranged for COIN (Climate Outreach and Information Network) to run a day’s speaker training for those of us in health interested in communicating with our own workplace, other NHS organisations, and our local communities. The training develops your speaking skills and builds your confidence in the communicating climate change message to help people take action. It will be on 14th March at the Friend’s House, Euston Road, London.
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To cover costs the fee for the day will be £50. Can you email Alison to let her know if you are interested in attending so we can get a feel for numbers. We will send out a programme and a booking form early in January and would be glad if you could let others know about the training.
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Pocket Guide update
Our pocket guide on health and sustainable development has now been designed by the Faculty of Public Health, who have obtained endorsement from 19 organisations so far. It will be published in January, and we plan to link with the Royal College of Physicians' conference on Climate change and its impact on healthon the 29th January. We are hugely grateful to the Faculty for all their hard work on the guide, and to the Department of Health for funding print costs (though of course the main method of dissemination will be electronic). We are just beginning to think about a slide set to go with the guide, and will be picking up Helen Zealley's work of earlier this year (thank you, Helen). Pocket Guide update
Our pocket guide on health and sustainable development has now been designed by the Faculty of Public Health, who have obtained endorsement from 19 organisations so far. It will be published in January, and we plan to link with the Royal College of Physicians' conference on Climate change and its impact on healthon the 29th January. We are hugely grateful to the Faculty for all their hard work on the guide, and to the Department of Health for funding print costs (though of course the main method of dissemination will be electronic). We are just beginning to think about a slide set to go with the guide, and will be picking up Helen Zealley's work of earlier this year (thank you, Helen).
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Conferences
Conferences and seminars are an important and easy way of communicating our thinking and creating motivation and commitment. Jenny spoke at a Royal Society of Medicine conference on waste, sustainability and health recently, and we welcome new members to the network as a result.
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Royal College of Physicians' conference on Climate change and its impact on healthis being held on the 29th January.
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The ESRC have funded a seminar series on sustainable consumption and production 2006-2008, put on by the Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS) at Cardiff University, the Centre for Sustainable Consumption at Sheffield Hallam University, and the School of Business and Economics at Swansea University. For more information, go to http://brass.cf.ac.uk/uploads/COMPLETE_FLIER.pdf . Many of the seminars have already taken place - but there are three in 2008: 'Changing the Way People Achieve Well-Being '(Sheffield, 21 February, at which Jenny will be speaking), 'Changing the Way People Play' (Cardiff, 16 April) and 'Changing the Way People Act' (Cardiff, 24 September).
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The UK Public Health Association have received about thirty abstracts for the Annual Forum in Liverpool on 1st and 2nd April 2008 related to sustainable development, which demonstrates the high level of interest. Work is currently underway to create the highest possible profile for sustainability at the Forum.
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We have also submitted an abstract on behalf of our network for the Faculty of Public Health conference in 2008.
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Personal stories
Personal change begets organisational and policy change. Two of our members, Pam Ashton and Bobbie Jacobson, have told us they have got rid of their car. Buddying' with friends and colleagues helps to maintain commitment and provide positive feedback. For example, Jenny has regular booked telephone conversations with a couple of colleagues who 'hold her to account' for actions she has committed to undertake - both personally and professionally. Both Jenny and Alison no longer fly – a hard decision when so many people seem to be fleeing the damp British winter for exotic holidays. Let us know your stories.