Health challenge

To understand and protect human health in a changing environment.

Environmental change leads to direct health impacts; may change the pattern of disease emergence and spread and increases stress on the infrastructure on which good health relies.

Conversely, sustainable solutions to threats from a changing environment may create opportunities for health 'co-benefits', for example through better diet, increased exercise or greener living.

Living With Environmental Change’s Health Challenge work

Living with Environmental Change’s Health Challenge work will ensure that the strategic and research aims of the partners remain visible and that opportunities for partnership and impact are not missed.

Considerable recent investment in environment and health research by the partners will lead to growth in new knowledge in the next few years.

The human health sector is well served by advisory groups so there’s no need for Living With Environmental Change partners to create additional advisory capacity.

Threats to business and society:

• Loss of access to food due to climate change and extreme weather.
• Changes in health affect the workforce.
• Environmental change impacts on infrastructure and the economy.
• Extreme environmental impacts (eg, flooding) create psychological stress.
• Environmental changes affect human exposure to pathogens and hazardous substances.
• Rising temperatures affect mortality.

Opportunities:

• New disease control methods.
• Emergency water purification.
• Rapid detection and identification of pathogens.
• Cold-related illnesses and accidents may decline.
• Health “co-benefits” gained from sustainable environmental solutions.