A new report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is making bold claims about the relationship between climate change and public health. The report, titled “Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK: State of the Evidence 2023,” suggests that climate change is now a significant health crisis, impacting everything from air quality to the availability of food and water. The UKHSA, which replaced Public Health England in 2021, is responsible for England-wide public health protection and infectious disease capabilities.
The report claims that vulnerable populations bear the brunt of the health impacts of climate change and that changing climate poses one of the greatest health security and societal challenges. It points to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events globally, including flooding, wildfires, and record temperatures. The report also asserts that climate change is no longer a theoretical future threat but an emerging reality, with temperatures projected to rise and impact health, society, and the National Health Service (NHS).
In response to these claims, researcher Ben Pile has strongly contested the UKHSA’s assertions, calling them an “outright lie.” He argues that there are no metrics of human welfare to support the claims made by the UKHSA. Pile also highlighted a significant reduction in deaths from weather-related causes and challenges the idea that climate change affects most health determinants directly or indirectly.
Pile, who is the founder of Climate Resistance, a website dedicated to challenging the green climate narrative, criticized the UKHSA for giving priority to “saving the planet” over human health. He expressed concern that limiting access to cheap energy could make lives more challenging and contribute to increased poverty. While the report emphasizes the need for preventative measures, it also points to opportunities for health benefits through climate change mitigation measures. It suggests that embedding health goals in decarbonization strategies could have positive impacts on air quality, food, housing, and mental health. The report also discusses the establishment of the Centre for Climate and Health Security by the UKHSA in Oct. 2022, which aims to protect health in the context of a changing climate. Regardless of the differing viewpoints, the report urges policymakers to consider global decarbonization and early interventions to prevent health impacts from climate change.