Public BoD papers 26.5.22

Agenda item 20-22d

Board of Directors Thursday 26 th May 2022

1. Introduction and background 1.1 Climate Change

Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth assessment on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability was published on 28 February 2022. It reported that the world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C. Scientists believe it is increasingly likely that threshold will be crossed between now and 2026. Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements. The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. Any further delay in concerted anticipatory action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. 1.2 Climate and health emergency The IPCC sixth assessment on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability report recognises the interconnection between the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis; the place of human health and wellbeing in reducing climate risks; and the importance of equity and justice. The report states with “very high confidence” that climate change has adversely affected the physical and mental health of people worldwide. The climate emergency is a health emergency. The Trust and NHS partners across Greater Manchester acknowledged this in 2019 with a declaration of a climate emergency. As climate change threatens the foundations of good health, with direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS. The situation is getting worse, with nine out of the 10 hottest years on record occurring in the last decade and more than 2,500 people killed by heatwaves across the UK in 2020. Without accelerated action there will be increases in the intensity of heatwaves, more frequent storms and flooding, and increased spread of infectious diseases. Locally we are now starting to feel the impacts of climate change with increased extreme weather event. The water levels in parts of South Manchester were the highest ever recorded in the area.

Climate Change in Didsbury, January 2021 1

1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-55746517

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