Why act now?
 

Adapting to climate change means making ourselves more resilient to the impacts we are already experiencing and preparing for what will happen in the future.

 

All aspects of life will be affected but proactive planning at an individual and community level is much cheaper and safer than postponing action until impacts become more severe.

 

How are we vulnerable?
 

It’s vital to understand how we and others are vulnerable to the increased risks from extreme weather events and other impacts coming our way. Factors like age, health, ethnicity, housing conditions, and financial security all influence how we cope with extreme weather.

 

We are all at risk to some degree during a heatwave, but people are more vulnerable if they are very young, old, pregnant, menopausal, unwell, work outdoors, have a house which overheats or have no access to cooler outdoor space. Even our attitude to authority, or to climate change, can affect how we behave and therefore cope in extreme heat.

 

If we are at risk of river or surface water flooding due to our location, we are more vulnerable if we are unwell or not mobile, have no support network or are unable to afford insurance or alternative accommodation.

 

Protecting Health & Wellbeing

 

Climate change is a public health issue.

 

The government published the Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) report in December 2024, addressing the main hazards to our population due to the UK’s changing climate. It shows how the direct impacts of climate change, heatwaves, flooding and drought, can lead to further indirect impacts including malnutrition, mental health impacts and the spread of infectious diseases. It highlights how some parts of the population are more vulnerable than others to climate impacts.

 

Research into mental health impacts by Nottingham University following the 2022 heatwave revealed the significant increase in stress, anxiety and sleep disruption amongst the population of Nottingham, summarised in this BBC video: Is climate change affecting our mental health?

 

A new research centre at Exeter University will focus on finding positive solutions to the negative impacts of the climate crisis on human health to safeguard future generations.

 

“The decisions we make today will determine the severity and extent of climate impacts inherited by today’s youth and their children, and it’s vital that those decisions are based on the best possible evidence.”