 | Climate Change
Medact aims to highlight the health implications of environmental degradation and work towards solutions which are ecologically sound, socially just, and beneficial to human health. Medacts members are increasingly concerned about the responsibility of health professionals for the impacts of human behaviour on global eco-systems, and the role of environmental factors as determinants of health. Our membership includes leading experts in the fields of climate change and toxicology, who are active in delineating the present and potential damage to human health worldwide. Medact welcomes the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol by a total of 186 nations. However we are alarmed that the United States, the world's richest, most powerful, and most polluting nation, continues in its refusal to ratify the Protocol. The US constitutes 25% of the global warming problem. Notwithstanding US non-compliance, the agreement represents a commendable achievement in the face of environmental disaster. We stress the urgency of further, deeper cuts and suggest that the measures currently agreed to, whilst a vital first step, are of less significance than the precedent set and the inbuilt capacity for much bigger emission cuts in future. To put the deal into perspective, the actual cuts committed to by the 37 richest and most developed nations (after last minute concessions to Japan, Canada and Australia) translate into reductions of around 1-3% of C02 released into the atmosphere. This comes nowhere near the immediate cuts of 60-80% demanded by scientists in order to stabilise the climate. Medact is a member of 
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Is there a place for new nuclear build in generating energy for civilian use?
Medact's Chair Frank Boulton presented a Hexham Debate on May 19th 2012; his talk addressed the question 'Is there a place for new nuclear build in generating energy for civilian use?' In the face of climate change, even environmentalists now advocate nuclear power as an essential part of a low-carbon future. This talk explored some of the pros and cons of this option, and discussed the inevitable technical links with nuclear weapons of mass destruction. It also looked back to the events at Fukushima a year after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11th 2011.
To see the presentation slides with accompanying commentary click on download document
   02/06/2012
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Join the Big Climate Connection!
Medact and more than 100 other organisations have joined The Big Climate Connection - a lobby of local MPs on November 5th/6th 2010.
View the article for more information and download a sample press release you can send to local media.
23/09/2010
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Nuclear power is not the answer
Nuclear power currently provides around 15% of the UK’s electricity. The government says we need more nuclear power to meet our future energy needs and to tackle climate change. However many scientists point out that nuclear is a poor way to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions.
To find out more download this summeary written by Dr Ian Fairlie and Alison Whyte Medact's Media and Communications Officer.
26/03/2010
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Medact at The Wave
On Saturday, the 5th December 2009, a group of health professionals joined The Wave, a massive demonstration through central London prior to the crucial UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen.
To read more about Medact's prescence at The Wave please see Tony Waterston's blog and Alison Whyte's blog.
08/12/2009
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The Wave
The Wave is an event organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition to demonstrate support for a safe climate future for all.
08/10/2009
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Climate and Health Council - Sign the Pledge now!
Between now and the UN Conference in December, the Climate & Health Council need doctors and health professionals to sign the Pledge in support of the declaration that "urgent government-led international action on climate change is essential to the health and survival of this and future generations". Robin Stott and Mike Gill, Co-chairs of the Climate and Health Council, are leading this initiative to ensure that the ‘health voice’ is properly heard in the lead up to the UN Copenhagen conference in Dec 2009.
13/07/2009
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Carbon Reduction and Health: a guide to reducing the footprint of the health sector
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health are hosting a conference organised in collaboration with the BMJ and the Faculty of Public Health on June 30th aimed at helping the health sector reduce its carbon footprint. For the very reasonable price of £50 you can hear eminent speakers on the public imperative of the subject and how it can be realised in practice - if possible you need to sign up this week.
27/05/2008
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ICOUNT - has been a roaring success!
We are ending the campaign on a high with our 3 victories on the climate bill.
1. A target of 80% reduction in emissions by 2050
2. Yearly targets for emissions reductions
3. And aviation and shipping will now be included in the emissions targets
06/11/2007
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Nuclear power in the context of climate change - not the answer
In the ongoing debate about nuclear power and climate change, Dr Ian Fairlie's 2005 submission the the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee clearly lays out the evidence that nuclear power is not the answer to reducing carbon emissions.
25/04/2007
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Bristol Medact's response to Bristol International Airport's Masterplan
Bristol Medact warns that the proposed expansion of Bristol International Airport will have adverse effects on health, both locally and beyond. Download the file to read their whole response to the consultation.
19/01/2007
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Centre on Global Change and Health
Current scientific evidence indicates that climate change will contribute to the global burden of disease through increases in diarrhoeal disease, vector-borne disease and malnutrition and the health impacts of extreme weather and climate events. We are continuing to develop methods for quantifying the health risks associated with climate change at the national, regional and global level.
11/01/2007
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What should we do about climate change? Health Professionals need to act now, collectively and individually
Robin Stott, chair of the British Medical Journal Carbon Council and Board member of Medact, has recently published an article on climate change in the British Medical Journal
20/11/2006
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Africa - Up in Smoke 2
The second report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development on Africa and global warming is now available for download
20/11/2006
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Up in Smoke? Latin America and the Caribbean: the Threat from Climate Change to the Environment and Human Development
The third report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development on Latin America and the Caribbean is now available for download
20/11/2006
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Personal carbon allowances
Mayer Hillman: BMJ, Jun 2006; 332: 1387 - 1388 ; doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7554.1387
17/08/2006
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Healthy response to climate change
Robin Stott: BMJ, Jun 2006; 332: 1385 - 1387 ; doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7554.138
17/08/2006
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Medact 2006 AGM - Global inequality and climate change; confronting the problem
Venue: 120 Belsize Lane, London, NW3 5BA
Date: 17th of June 2006
Time: 0930 –1700
Featuring information on the talks and issues raised at the AGM, presentations and links to useful information.
26/04/2006
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Medact's submission to the Select Committee on Environmental Audit
Dr Ian Fairlie's submission on behalf of Medact, critically examines the claims made for nuclear power in the context of climate change.
Click the website link given below. From there, select the HTML version of the Sixth Report. Then click on "Written Evidence" at the bottom of the contents, and the link to the Memorandum submitted by Medact can be found approximately half-way down the page.
25/04/2006
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World Health Organisation - Global environmental change
Large-scale and global environmental hazards to human health include climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity, changes in hydrological systems and the supplies of freshwater, land degradation and stresses on food-producing systems.
Appreciation of this scale and type of influence on human health requires a new perspective which focuses on ecosystems and on the recognition that the foundations of long-term good health in populations rely in great part on the continued stability and functioning of the biosphere's life-supporting systems. It also brings an appreciation of the complexity of the systems upon which we depend.
16/01/2006
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Carsons Syndrome- Non accidental injury to the Planet
Carsons Syndrome--A major threat to the publics health in the 21st Century
This outline does not attempt to craft a new definition of health, an anyway unneccesary folly as definitions do not alter our understanding of the factors which contribute to our health.
03/08/2004
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