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West Midlands Health and Planning group

Background
In 2010, West Midlands PCT's and local authorities came together to prepare a joint public health response to the Local Transport Plan 3. Subsequent work with Centro has demonstrated how this response influenced the final Local Transport Plan and associated implementation plan.

In 2011 a wider group prepared a joint response to the National Planning Policy Framework. It was clear that there was a wide range of healthy urban environment work underway across the West Midlands and extensive local experience and learning. Working with the West Midlands Learning for Public Health Network (LfPHWM) a West Midlands Health and Planning group was established.

The objective of the group is to share learning and experience and coordinate joint work across the West Midlands. With the constraints on people’s time and capacity it was felt that the group needed to take a practical approach to sharing best practice and identify opportunities to undertake joint work across specific areas of practice. The underlying model for the work is the Marmot Review objective E – “To create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities”.

WMHPG news, information and resources 10/09/2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Sustainable development goals

Covid-19 has been devastating for the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: https://ifamagazine.com/article/covid-19-has-been-devastating-for-the-uns-2030-sustainable-development-goals/

JRF - Keep the lifeline - open letter to the Prime Minister: https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/keep-the-lifeline-open-letter-to-the-prime-minister

Schools in poorest areas of England to be worst hit by pupil premium change: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/sep/05/schools-in-poorest-areas-of-england-to-be-worst-hit-by-pupil-premium-change

Healthy planning & environment

TCPA – Tomorrow 125: https://www.tomorrow125.org.uk/ “The TCPA has today launched ‘Tomorrow 125’ a project to explore how the Garden City idea can help us construct a pathway to a hopeful future based on a fairer society. At a time when the climate crisis is impossible to ignore, and we cautiously feel our way into the new post-pandemic ‘normal’, does the Garden City idea offer insights into a new way to live in the 21st Century?”

Report reveals ‘unprecedented’ water scarcity: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/report-reveals-unprecedented-water-scarcity/

H20: The molecule that made us (iPlayer): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000z2cw/h2o-the-molecule-that-made-us Interesting and informative documentary – especially episode 2 which looks at water scarcity and environmental impact across the world.

Amazon fires surge anew in Brazil as cleared forest burns: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/amazon-fires-surge-anew-brazil-cleared-forest-burns-2021-09-03/

Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environment: https://www.who.int/tools/compendium-on-health-and-environment

Animals ‘shapeshifting’ in response to climate crisis, research finds: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/07/animals-shapeshifting-in-response-to-climate-crisis-research-finds

Housing

National Audit Office - Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/green-homes-grant/

Rents outside London soaring at fastest rate on record, agencies say: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/08/rents-outside-london-soaring-at-fastest-rate-on-record-agencies-say

Climate change & sustainability

Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health: https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1734

Cumbria coal mine: Local Tory MP drops support for controversial project ahead of Cop26: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cumbria-coal-mine-neil-hudson-b1915025.html

Guest post: Reviewing the summer of extreme weather in 2021: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-reviewing-the-summer-of-extreme-weather-in-2021

Study: Warmer Arctic led to killer cold in Texas, much of US: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/arctic-texas-study-science-michael-mann-b1913439.html

Climate change: ditch 90% of world’s coal and 60% of oil and gas to limit warming to 1.5°C – experts: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-ditch-90-of-worlds-coal-and-60-of-oil-and-gas-to-limit-warming-to-1-5-c-experts-167494

New guide will teach children about the climate crisis: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/new-guide-will-teach-children-about-the-climate-crisis/

How a hot blob off New Zealand is contributing to drought in South America: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/how-a-hot-blob-off-new-zealand-is-contributing-to-drought-in-south-america

Exclusive: Ministers bowed to pressure to drop key climate commitments for UK trade deal with Australia: https://news.sky.com/story/exclusive-ministers-bowed-to-pressure-to-drop-key-climate-commitments-for-uk-trade-deal-with-australia-12401988

Reclaiming Hydrogen for a Renewable Future: Distinguishing Fossil Fuel Industry Spin from Zero-Emission Solutions: https://earthjustice.org/features/green-hydrogen-renewable-zero-emission

Guest post: Energy needed to eradicate poverty ‘compatible with climate goals’: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-energy-needed-to-eradicate-poverty-compatible-with-climate-goals

20 meat and dairy firms emit more greenhouse gas than Germany, Britain or France: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/07/20-meat-and-dairy-firms-emit-more-greenhouse-gas-than-germany-britain-or-france

Jet Zero and the politics of the technofix: https://theecologist.org/2021/aug/27/jet-zero-and-politics-technofix

Climate impact of a transatlantic flight could cost global economy $3,000: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/06/climate-crisis-transatlantic-flight-global-economy-gdp

Dung beetle experiment suggests carbon dioxide is bad for insects too: https://theconversation.com/dung-beetle-experiment-suggests-carbon-dioxide-is-bad-for-insects-too-166836

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency: https://www.rpharms.com/about-us/sustainability/declaration

World's top three Christian leaders in climate appeal ahead of U.N. summit: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/worlds-top-three-christian-leaders-climate-appeal-ahead-un-summit-2021-09-07/

Climate change deniers are as slippery as those who justified the slave trade: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/04/climate-change-deniers-are-as-slippery-as-those-who-justified-the-slave-trade

India seeks to move coal to areas of shortage as power demand rises: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-seeks-move-coal-areas-shortage-power-demand-rises-2021-09-04/

UK rejects campaigners’ call to postpone Cop26 climate talks again: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/09/07/uk-rejects-campaigners-call-postpone-cop26-climate-talks/

No 10 wargaming to stop Nicola Sturgeon using Cop26 as ‘advert’ for Scottish independence: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cop26-scotland-independence-indyref2-b1902613.html

Active travel & transport

Transport noise linked to increased risk of dementia, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/09/transport-noise-linked-to-increased-risk-of-dementia-study-finds - primary paper here - https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1954

Walking is economic growth: https://medium.com/happy-cities/walking-economics-aaf64898f361

Park, Charge, and Ride: UK's first solar powered Park and Ride site opens in Leeds: https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4036694/solar-powered-park-and-ride-opens-leeds

Majority of Academics Behind EV-Sceptic Paper Are Petrol or Diesel Specialists: https://www.desmog.com/2021/09/01/academics-electric-vehicles-petrol-diesel-cars/

Oxfordshire plans wave of 20mph zones: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Oxfordshire-plans-wave-of-20mph-zones/52871

Air quality & pollution

Linkages for Healthy Air and a Healthy Planet: Reducing Air Pollution, Protecting Health and Mitigating Climate Change: https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2021/09/08/linkages-for-healthy-air-and-a-healthy-planet-reducing-air-pollution-protecting-health-and-mitigating-climate-change

THE STATE OF GLOBAL AIR QUALITY FUNDING 2021: https://www.cleanairfund.org/publication/global-funding-2021/ - more here - More global aid goes to fossil fuel projects than tackling dirty air – study: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/07/more-global-aid-goes-to-fossil-fuel-projects-than-tackling-dirty-air-study-pollution

Reducing environmental pollution could save thousands of lives: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/09/06/reducing-environmental-pollution-could-cut-24-of-deaths/

Air pollution: science shows there’s no safe limit – here’s how laws must change: https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-science-shows-theres-no-safe-limit-heres-how-laws-must-change-167223

Air Pollution and Noncommunicable Diseases: A Review by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies’ Environmental Committee, Part 2: Air Pollution and Organ Systems: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6904854/

Exposure to air pollution linked to greater risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation, report finds: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-air-pollution-link-risk-b1914580.html

Sewage discharge rules eased over fears of chemical shortage: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/sep/07/government-ease-sewage-discharge-rules-amid-chemical-shortage

Food and food security

Food banks bracing for ‘busiest and most difficult winter on record’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/food-banks-covid-universal-credit-b1910399.html

A fundamentally new way to freeze foods could cut carbon emissions equal to 1 million cars: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/09/new-freezing-strategy-could-cut-the-energy-use-of-food-industry/

Small strategic dietary changes yield surprisingly large health and environmental returns: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/09/a-series-of-small-dietary-changes-can-bring-surprisingly-large-health-and-environmental-gains

What would a national food database achieve across the environment, food security and health? https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/what-would-a-national-food-database-achieve-across-the-environment-food-security-and-health/659529.article

WMHPG news, information and resources 02 September 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Webinar - Public Health: Back to the Future: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/public-health-back-to-the-future-tickets-166296498303 “Through an interview with David Kidney (Executive Chair of WM Health Technologies Cluster and former CEO of UK Public Health Register ) and open discussion, Zafar Iqbal will reflect on his 30 years experience in Public Health and share his views of the future of Public Health in this country.” Wed, 6 October 2021 12:30 – 13:30 BST

Sustainable development goals

Universal credit cut - impact by constituency: https://www.jrf.org.uk/universal-credit-cut-impact-constituency

Healthy planning & environment

NIHR call for applications for commissioned research - 21/525 Permitted Developments Rights: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/21525-permitted-developments-rights/28041

Researchers calculated how many lives energy-efficient buildings could save: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/08/researchers-calculated-how-many-lives-energy-efficient-buildings-could-save/

Continued inequalities in use of greenspace: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/news/2021/august/continued-inequalities-in-use-of-greenspace/

New report reveals one third of tree species threatened with extinction: https://globaltrees.org/news-blog/new-report-reveals-one-third-of-tree-species-threatened-with-extinction/

Fracking and poorer surface water quality link established – new research: https://theconversation.com/fracking-and-poorer-surface-water-quality-link-established-new-research-166692

We can’t build our way out of the environmental crisis: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/01/build-environmental-crisis-infrastructure-pandemic-concrete

Housing

Cuts to housing benefits led to over 75,000 more overcrowded households during the pandemic: https://theconversation.com/cuts-to-housing-benefits-led-to-over-75-000-more-overcrowded-households-during-the-pandemic-165711

‘Draughty and inefficient’ homes are worse for climate than cars: https://www.bigissue.com/latest/homes-pollute-more-than-cars-and-must-be-priority-in-climate-change-fight/

Covid homeless scheme not leading to permanent accommodation, warns charity: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58334379

Climate change & sustainability

Extreme sea levels at different global warming levels: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01127-1

Toward an ice-free mountain range: demise of Pyrenean glaciers during 2011–2020: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL094339

Grantham Art Prize 2021 - We invite 12-25-year-olds to design a mural that sends a strong message about the habitats and living organisms under threat across the UK to let people know about the importance of biodiversity loss: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/events/grantham-art-prize-2021/?mc_cid=1e59eb6852&mc_eid=9a7f181f0f

Extreme weather & hurricane Ida

Weather-related disasters increase over past 50 years, causing more damage but fewer deaths: https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/weather-related-disasters-increase-over-past-50-years-causing-more-damage-fewer

‘Another Year of Weather Extremes: Outliers … or Omens?’ https://yaleclimateconnections.org/webinar-another-year-of-weather-extremes-outliers-or-omens/

Hurricane Ida: 4 essential reads about New Orleans’ high hurricane risk and what climate change has to do with the storms: https://theconversation.com/hurricane-ida-4-essential-reads-about-new-orleans-high-hurricane-risk-and-what-climate-change-has-to-do-with-the-storms-166954

Severity Of Hurricane Ida Reflects Threat From Global Warming, Reports Find: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmichelson2/2021/08/29/severity-of-hurricane-ida-reflects-threat-from-global-warming-reports-find/

Insurers may take $18 bln hit from Hurricane Ida - industry experts: https://www.reuters.com/business/insurers-may-take-18-bln-hit-hurricane-ida-industry-experts-2021-09-01/

Biden declares emergency in California over Caldor fire: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-wildfires-biden/biden-declares-emergency-in-california-over-caldor-fire-idUSKBN2FY090

Southern Blob of unusual Pacific heat blamed for creating megadrought: https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/southern-blob-of-unusual-pacific-heat-blamed-for-creating-megadrought-20210826-p58m7p.html

Running Dry: The impact of water scarcity on children in the Middle East and North Africa: https://www.unicef.org/mena/reports/running-dry-impact-water-scarcity-children

Control methane to slow global warming — fast: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02287-y

Controversy around climate change reports: a case study of Twitter responses to the 2019 IPCC report on land: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-021-03182-1

Public concern about climate change and pollution doubles to a near-record level: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/public-concern-about-climate-change-and-pollution-doubles-near-record-level

Frustration mounts as Cop26 delegates wait for the UK’s promised Covid vaccines: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/09/01/frustration-mounts-cop26-delegates-wait-uks-promised-covid-vaccines/

Atlas of the Invisible: using data to map the climate crisis: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/01/atlas-of-the-invisible-using-data-reveal-climate-crisis

Who speaks for Afghans? – Climate Weekly: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/08/27/speaks-afghans-climate-weekly/

Over-50s want climate crisis addressed ‘even if it leads to high prices’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/30/over-50s-want-climate-crisis-addressed-even-if-it-leads-to-high-prices

Extinction Rebellion protesters enter Science Museum demanding end to Shell sponsorship: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/extinction-rebellion-sr-science-museum-shell-b1910750.html

China Briefing, 26 August 2021: Closed coal mines reopened; Rapid warming for Tibet; ‘Record low’ carbon prices: https://www.carbonbrief.org/china-briefing-26-august-2021-closed-coal-mines-reopened-rapid-warming-for-tibet-record-low-carbon-prices

Acting on climate change, a $11 trillion opportunity for India: Report: https://www.thehindu.com/business/acting-on-climate-change-a-11-trillion-opportunity-for-india-report/article36161844.ece

Gas, like coal, has no future as the world wakes up to climate emergency: https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3146479/gas-coal-has-no-future-world-wakes-climate-emergency

Business rates system 'discourages shift to net zero': https://www.localgov.co.uk/Business-rates-system-discourages-shift-to-net-zero/2854

Active travel & transport

Decarbonising transport outside cities: it is possible, let’s get on with it: https://greenertransportsolutions.com/insight/decarbonising-transport-outside-cities-it-is-possible-lets-get-on-with-it/

The current car tax system punishes low mileage drivers, report says: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/08/25/the-current-car-tax-system-punishes-low-mileage-drivers-report-says/

New eco-petrol baffles a quarter of motorists: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58398606

Toyota restarts driverless shuttles after Paralympics accident forced athlete to withdraw from event: https://news.sky.com/story/toyota-restarts-driverless-shuttles-after-paralympics-accident-forced-athlete-to-withdraw-from-event-12395714

DHL Express orders 12 fully electric cargo planes: https://www.edie.net/amp-news/8/DHL-Express-orders-12-fully-electric-cargo-planes/

Air quality & pollution

Air Quality Life Index – how much longer would you live if you breathed clean air? https://aqli.epic.uchicago.edu/

Air pollution linked to more severe mental illness – study: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/air-pollution-linked-to-more-severe-mental-illness-study

Common air pollutants linked with increased risk of cardiac arrest: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Common-air-pollutants-linked-with-increased-risk-of-cardiac-arrest

Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ contaminate indoor air at worrying levels, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/31/pfas-toxic-forever-chemicals-air-breathing - primary paper here: The Air That We Breathe: Neutral and Volatile PFAS in Indoor Air: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00481

Veolia survey: 83% of businesses unaware of impending plastic tax: https://www.circularonline.co.uk/news/veolia-survey-83-of-businesses-unaware-of-impending-plastic-tax/

Single-use plastic plates and cutlery to be banned in England: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/single-use-plastic-plates-and-cutlery-to-be-banned-in-england

Highly polluting leaded petrol now eradicated from the world, says UN: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58388810

Food and food security

Food systems: seven priorities to end hunger and protect the planet: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02331-x

‘Nothing to eat’: Somalia hit by triple threat of climate crisis, Covid and conflict: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/23/nothing-to-eat-somalia-hit-by-triple-threat-of-climate-crisis-covid-and-conflict

Labour crisis revealed: Food shortages caused by 500,000 worker deficit: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/wholesalers/labour-crisis-revealed-food-shortages-caused-by-500000-worker-deficit/659312.article

We mapped the landscape for taxes on sugary drinks in seven African countries: https://theconversation.com/amp/we-mapped-the-landscape-for-taxes-on-sugary-drinks-in-seven-african-countries-158243

And finally….

Cartoonists’ ‘Code Red’ caricatures of new IPCC report: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/08/cartoonists-code-red-caricatures-of-new-ipcc-report/

WMHPG news, information and resources 26 August 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

July-August 2021 ASPHER (The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region) Newsletter: https://www.aspher.org/download/805/aspher_newsletter_july-august_2021.pdf

Sustainable development goals

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01207-1/fulltext

Camilla Kingdon: Cuts to Universal Credit will leave children hungry: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/08/17/camilla-kingdon-cuts-to-universal-credit-will-leave-children-hungry/

UK heading for the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II: https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/uk-heading-biggest-overnight-cut-basic-rate-social-security-world-war-ii

Challenge Poverty Week 2021: https://www.challengepoverty.net/

A Fair Start: Equalising access to early education: http://files.localgov.co.uk/suttontrust.pdf

Understanding People, Understanding Places: A report on the levelling up agenda: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/2021-08/Levelling%20Up%20Report%20-%20Understanding%20People%20-%20Understanding%20Places.pdf

High Court grants permission for ‘Levelling Up Fund’ legal challenge: https://www.localgov.co.uk/High-Court-grants-permission-for-Levelling-Up-Fund-legal-challenge/52825

Healthy planning & environment

Scottish Land Commission - Towards a Public Interest Led Approach to Development: https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/downloads/611ba5365de67_Land%20for%20Housing%20Review%20FINAL.pdf

Fine Margins: Viability assessments in planning and plan-making: https://lichfields.uk/media/6509/fine-margins_viability-assessments-in-planning-and-plan-making.pdf

It’s not that easy being green: https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/bosco-verticale-not-easy-being-green

Four takeaways on public space investment for placemakers: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2021/08/20/four-takeaways-on-public-space-investment-for-placemakers/

Gatwick Plans Second Runway: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/gatwick-airport-runway-second-flights-b1908436.html

LED streetlights decimating moth numbers in England: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/25/led-streetlights-moth-england-eco-friendly-sodium-insect-decline

Housing

A New Deal for the Private Rented Sector: https://www.nrla.org.uk/download?document=1333

The climate and health benefits from intensive building energy efficiency improvements: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/34/eabg0947

Climate change & sustainability

UNICEF - The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index: https://www.unicef.org/reports/climate-crisis-child-rights-crisis

A billion children at ‘extreme risk’ from climate impacts – UNICEF: https://snip.ly/bzcyqs?s=09&utm_source=pocket_mylist#https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/20/a-billion-children-at-extreme-risk-from-climate-impacts-unicef

Cities on the Route to 2030: Building a zero emissions, resilient planet for all: https://6fefcbb86e61af1b2fc4-c70d8ead6ced550b4d987d7c03fcdd1d.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/cms/reports/documents/000/005/759/original/CDP_Cities_on_the_Route_to_2030.pdf

Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill – Declare your support for the CEE bill: https://www.ceebill.uk/

The Grantham Annual Lecture 2021 – Weathering the climate crisis and COVID-19: A perspective from the epicentre of the perfect storm: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/137998/the-grantham-annual-lecture-2021-weathering-the-climate-crisis-and-covid-19-a-perspective-from-the-epicentre-of-the-perfect-storm/

Extreme weather events:

Rain falls on peak of Greenland ice cap for first time on record: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/20/rain-falls-peak-greenland-ice-cap-first-time-on-record-climate-crisis

Siberia’s massive wildfires are unlocking extreme carbon pollution: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/siberias-massive-wildfires-are-unlocking-extreme-carbon-pollution

Climate change: Europe's 2020 heat reached 'troubling' level: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58333124

At least 22 dead after 17 inches of rain in Tennessee: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/22/tennessee-flood-killed-rain-506540

Caldor fire continues to rage after winds fan northern California blaze: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/22/caldor-fire-california-continues-to-rage

Drought scare looms large over a fifth of India: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/drought-scare-looms-large-over-a-fifth-of-india-78606

Drought and water scarcity

Ensuring Prosperity in a Water-stressed World: https://www.wri.org/water

Afghanistan at risk of hunger amid drought and Taliban takeover: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/08/24/afghanistan-risk-famine-amid-drought-taliban-takeover/

Madagascar on the brink of climate change-induced famine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-58303792

Extinction Rebellion gears up for two weeks of climate protests across London: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/extinction-rebellion-gears-up-for-two-weeks-of-climate-protests-across-london-40777445.html

Extinction Rebellion to Target London’s Financial District Over Fossil Fuel Funding: https://www.desmog.com/2021/08/19/extinction-rebellion-to-target-londons-financial-district-over-fossil-fuel-funding/

Wrong to label Extinction Rebellion as extremists, says Home Office adviser: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/21/wrong-to-label-extinction-rebellion-as-extremists-says-home-office-adviser

Pest explosions could follow in the wake of climate change: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/climate/item/4114-pest-outbreaks-may-be-an-unforeseen-consequence-of-climate-change

Greta Thunberg accuses the UK of lying about its climate success ahead of COP26: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/greta-thunberg-cop26-climate-change-emissions-carbon-footprint-1159154

PM and Government must put all their focus on crucial climate summit – Miliband: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/pm-and-government-must-put-all-their-focus-on-crucial-climate-summit-miliband-40775846.html

As silly season ends, so too should August's confected row over Net Zero: https://jossgarman.substack.com/p/as-silly-season-ends-so-too-should

UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years faces losing financial backing after climate controversy: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/uk-coal-mine-cumbria-climate-b1900862.html

Amazon: regrowing forests have offset less than 10% of carbon emissions from deforestation: https://theconversation.com/amazon-regrowing-forests-have-offset-less-than-10-of-carbon-emissions-from-deforestation-165419

China to step up tree planting campaign to help reach net zero: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-step-up-tree-planting-campaign-help-reach-net-zero-2021-08-20/

China's provinces still planning over 100 GW of new coal projects – Greenpeace: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinas-provinces-still-planning-over-100-gw-new-coal-projects-greenpeace-2021-08-25/

Scientifically accurate coverage of climate change is steadily improving: But, there’s one place it still continues to fail: conservative media: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/08/newspaper-coverage-of-climate-change-is-increasingly-accurate/

Postcard From Thermal: Surviving the Climate Gap in Eastern Coachella Valley: https://www.propublica.org/article/postcard-from-thermal-surviving-the-climate-gap-in-eastern-coachella-valley

Daily Mail and Telegraph ‘Well Behind the Curve’ on Reporting Climate Change Accurately: https://www.desmog.com/2021/08/17/daily-mail-and-telegraph-well-behind-the-curve-on-reporting-climate-change-accurately

Active travel & transport

How Politicians and Lobby Groups Tried — And Failed — To Co-opt Legitimate Concerns Over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: https://www.desmog.com/2021/08/18/low-traffic-neighbourhoods-politicians-lobby-groups/

Climate effects on US infrastructure: the economics of adaptation for rail, roads, and coastal development: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-021-03179-w

Transport decarbonisation and the role of land-use planning: https://greenertransportsolutions.com/insight/transport-decarbonisation-and-the-role-of-land-use-planning/

Air quality & pollution

Interview: Chris Hook, head of clean air at Uber UK: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/08/18/interview-chris-hook-head-of-clean-air-at-uber-uk/

Breathing wildfire smoke during pregnancy raises risk of premature birth, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/24/california-wildfire-smoke-pregnancy-premature-birth

TV show highlights impact of air pollution on children: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/08/17/tv-show-highlights-impact-of-air-pollution-on-children/

Bottled water numbers don’t add up—their environmental impact is 3500 times that of tap water: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/08/bottled-water-numbers-dont-add-up-their-environmental-impact-is-3500-times-that-of-tap-water/

Food and food security

Webinar – Open Cambridge - What does the UK eat? The national diet down through the decades: https://www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/event/open-cambridge-what-does-uk-eat/

Why the planning system and planners are critical to stop an increasingly obese nation during post-Covid-19 recovery: https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/why-the-planning-system-and-planners-are-critical-to-stop-an-increasingly-obese-nation

And finally….

Earth Photo 2021: Stunning winning images explore the themes shaping our world: http://geographical.co.uk/rgs/item/4115-earth-photo-2021-stunning-winning-images-explore-the-themes-shaping-our-world

WMHPG news, information and resources 19 August 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Job opportunity - Healthy Places Specialist - Public Health and Planning East Sussex County Council Lewes, England: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/jobsold/job/15999/orbis/TP/109884/15998/healthy-places-specialist-public-health-and-planning/adult-social-care-and-health/lewes

Sustainable development goals

Cutting universal credit uplift is emblematic of a failure to take child poverty seriously: https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/cutting-universal-credit-uplift-is-emblematic-of-a-failure-to-take-child-poverty-seriously

Institute for Fiscal Studies - The health impacts of Sure Start: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/15573

Healthy planning & environment

Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health – Edition 7: https://www.urbandesignmentalhealth.com/edition-7.html

Stakeholder experiences of using online spatial data visualisation tools for local public health decision support: A qualitative study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353829221001441

Major UN biodiversity summit delayed for third time due to pandemic: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/18/cop15-un-biodiversity-summit-hit-by-third-delay-due-to-pandemic-aoe

Planning for climate change: Is London STILL leading the way? https://lichfields.uk/blog/2021/august/17/planning-for-climate-change-is-london-still-leading-the-way/

The Guardian view on buildings: out with the new! For the planet’s sake: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/18/the-guardian-view-on-buildings-out-with-the-new-for-the-planets-sake

Planning for the future: the white paper one year on: https://www.cpre.org.uk/opinions/planning-for-the-future-the-white-paper-one-year-on/

London’s Marble Arch Mound was a fiasco in a city losing so many green spaces – but pop-up parks can work: https://theconversation.com/londons-marble-arch-mound-was-a-fiasco-in-a-city-losing-so-many-green-spaces-but-pop-up-parks-can-work-166284

Humans will always have oxygen to breathe, but we can’t say the same for ocean life: https://theconversation.com/humans-will-always-have-oxygen-to-breathe-but-we-cant-say-the-same-for-ocean-life-165148

A decolonial, feminist Global Green New Deal: https://theecologist.org/2021/aug/16/decolonial-feminist-global-green-new-deal

Housing

Coalition warns UK Government of impending rent crisis: https://scottishhousingnews.com/article/coalition-warns-uk-government-of-impending-rent-crisis

Welsh Government sets out standards for new social homes: https://hqnetwork.co.uk/news/welsh-government-sets-out-standards-for-new-social-homes-5548

Supported housing system 'a living nightmare': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-58061158

Women, homelessness and violence: what works? https://assets-global.website-files.com/59f07e67422cdf0001904c14/61017dbd205aeb5f3bdd366b_CFHI_WOMEN_REPORT_V03.pdf

Mayor of London pledges to resist rough sleeping Immigration Rules: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Mayor-of-London-pledges-to-resist-rough-sleeping-Immigration-Rules--/52748

Almost 800,000 fewer homes zero-carbon due to Tory planning deregulation: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/zero-carbon-homes-planning-deregulation-b1902472.html

Climate change & sustainability

The climate crisis is not slow and gradual but unpredictable and catastrophic: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/08/10/the-climate-crisis-is-not-slow-and-gradual-but-unpredictable-and-catastrophic/

UK climate change policies make up just 0.01% of GDP: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/uk-climate-change-policies-make-up-just-0-01-of-gdp/

Reports and comment on extreme weather events;

The age of the megafire: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/environment/2021/08/age-megafire

Algeria observes day of mourning after dozens killed in wildfires: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/12/algeria-observes-day-of-mourning-as-wildfires-keep-raging

California city threatened by approaching wildfire: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/568293-california-city-threatened-by-approaching-wildfire

U.S. declares first Western reservoir water shortage, triggering cuts: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-declares-first-ever-shortage-western-reservoir-triggering-water-cuts-2021-08-16/

Greek firefighters battle growing forest blaze near Athens: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-wildfires-greece/greek-firefighters-battle-growing-forest-blaze-near-athens-idUSKBN2FJ1N7

Two people found dead in French wildfire near Saint-Tropez: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/18/french-wildfire-saint-tropez-found-dead

Forest fire forces Russia to evacuate 830 from summer camp: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/moscow-russia-siberia-b1902929.html

Mega-blazes put spotlight on Europe's firefighting tactics: https://news.trust.org/item/20210813164011-gznem/

Japan rain: Nearly two million residents told to seek shelter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58212803

Turkey combats Black Sea floods, death toll rises to 31: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/death-toll-northern-turkey-floods-rises-27-2021-08-13/

Economic impacts of tipping points in the climate system: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/34/e2103081118.short

It’s official: July was Earth’s hottest month on record: https://www.noaa.gov/

Key takeaways from the new IPCC report: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/08/key-takeaways-from-the-new-ipcc-report/

IPCC: How the AR6 WG1 summary for policymakers compares to its predecessor: https://www.carbonbrief.org/ipcc-how-the-ar6-wg1-summary-for-policymakers-compares-to-its-predecessor

Greenhouse gas emissions must peak within 4 years, says leaked UN report: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/12/greenhouse-gas-emissions-must-peak-within-4-years-says-leaked-un-report

Hydrogen, and it’s role in reducing carbon emissions;

In-depth Q&A: How will the UK’s hydrogen strategy help achieve net-zero? https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-will-the-uks-hydrogen-strategy-help-achieve-net-zero

Blue hydrogen – what is it, and should it replace natural gas? https://theconversation.com/blue-hydrogen-what-is-it-and-should-it-replace-natural-gas-166053

‘Blue’ hydrogen emits 20% more CO2 than coal, say researchers: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/blue-hydrogen-emits-20-more-co2-than-coal-say-researchers/

EU solar power generation hits record high: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-solar-power-generation-hits-record-high-2021-08-17/

The carbon price conundrum: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-carbon-price-conundrum/

In-depth Q&A: How will the UK’s hydrogen strategy help achieve net-zero? https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-will-the-uks-hydrogen-strategy-help-achieve-net-zero

Council policies 'inconsistent' with climate goals: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58102578

UK net zero delay has left room for sceptics’ attacks, says government climate adviser: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/16/uk-net-zero-delay-has-left-room-for-climate-sceptics-attacks-says-tory-peer

Treasury blocking green policies key to UK net zero target: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/13/treasury-blocking-green-policies-key-to-uk-net-zero-target

CO2 Storage Plans Risk Leaving Future Generations with ‘Carbon Bombs’, Energy Expert Warns: https://www.desmog.com/2021/08/12/co2-storage-plans-risk-future-generations-carbon-climate-expert/

A new study provides a nuanced—and ultimately hopeful—view of the climate generation gap: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/08/the-young-are-more-worried-about-climate-change-but-everyone-is-more-worried-than-they-used-to-be/

US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58252784

Billionaires and the climate storm: https://theecologist.org/2021/aug/13/billionaires-and-climate-storm

Active travel & transport

Glasgow receives funding for active travel network: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/08/10/glasgow-receives-funding-for-active-travel-network/

Air quality & pollution

Nearly every London school in high air pollution area, report says: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-58230278

Welcome to the ‘plastisphere’: the synthetic ecosystem evolving at sea: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/11/welcome-to-the-plastisphere-the-synthetic-ecosystem-evolving-at-sea

Food and food security

Should we genetically edit the food we eat? We asked two experts: https://theconversation.com/should-we-genetically-edit-the-food-we-eat-we-asked-two-experts-162959

Small targeted dietary changes can yield substantial gains for human and environmental health: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00343-4

Beyond ‘food deserts’: America needs a new approach to mapping food insecurity: https://www.brookings.edu/research/beyond-food-deserts-america-needs-a-new-approach-to-mapping-food-insecurity/

WMHPG news, information and resources 05 August 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Sustainable development goals

Shipshape or sinking ship? Problem debt's impact on financial and mental wellbeing: https://capuk.org/connect/policy-and-government/shipshape

How will universal credit cut hit struggling families? The DWP doesn’t know: https://www.bigissue.com/latest/how-will-universal-credit-cut-hit-struggling-families-the-dwp-doesnt-know/

Calls for social tariff on UK energy bills as rises push extra half million homes into fuel poverty: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/31/calls-for-social-tariff-on-uk-energy-bills-as-rises-push-extra-half-million-homes-into-fuel-poverty

Healthy planning & environment

Calculating a national Anomie Density Ratio: Measuring the patterns of loneliness and social isolation across the UK’s residential density gradient using results from the UK Biobank study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204621001572

Rethinking Urban Health: https://www.project-syndicate.org/onpoint/urbanization-new-health-crises-by-tolullah-oni-2021-07

Beyond traditional measures: Examining the holistic impacts of public space investments in three cities: https://www.brookings.edu/essay/beyond-traditional-measures-examining-the-holistic-impacts-of-public-space-investments-in-three-cities/

70% of people have no access to quality green space: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/70-of-people-have-no-access-to-quality-green-space/

Monks Wood Wilderness: 60 years ago, scientists let a farm field rewild – here’s what happened: https://theconversation.com/monks-wood-wilderness-60-years-ago-scientists-let-a-farm-field-rewild-heres-what-happened-163406

European Green Deal Disadvantages Women And Weakens Environmental Protection, New Report Reveals: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/07/19/european-green-deal-disadvantages-women-and-weakens-environmental-protection-new-report-reveals/

Amsterdam City Doughnut: https://doughnuteconomics.org/stories/

17 environmental podcasts you need to hear: https://www.greenhousepr.co.uk/17-environmental-podcasts-you-need-to-hear/

Four clothing businesses that could lead us away from the horrors of fast fashion: https://theconversation.com/four-clothing-businesses-that-could-lead-us-away-from-the-horrors-of-fast-fashion-165578

Housing

Thousands of children stuck in temporary accommodation this summer, councils warn: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Thousands-of-children-stuck-in-temporary-accommodation-this-summer-councils-warn/52712

Heatwave risk from plans to convert shops to homes: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58029653.amp

Heat waves pose extra dangers to people experiencing homelessness: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/07/heat-waves-pose-extra-dangers-to-people-experiencing-homelessness/

Women, homelessness and violence: what works? https://assets-global.website-files.com/59f07e67422cdf0001904c14/61017dbd205aeb5f3bdd366b_CFHI_WOMEN_REPORT_V03.pdf

Climate change & sustainability

World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biab079/6325731

Methane release from carbonate rock formations in the Siberian permafrost area during and after the 2020 heat wave: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/32/e2107632118

Record winter winds in 2020/21 drove exceptional Arctic sea ice transport: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00221-8

The Social Cost Of Carbon: https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-social-cost-carbon

Extreme weather news

Smoke suffocates Athens as EU scientists label Mediterranean a ‘wildfire hotspot’: https://www.politico.eu/article/smoke-suffocates-athens-as-eu-scientists-label-mediterranean-a-wildfire-hotspot/
Forest fire closes in on Turkish power station: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/spanish-croatian-planes-join-battle-against-turkish-wildfires-2021-08-03/
After a scorching, parched summer across much of the U.S., what will August bring? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/02/us/august-forecast.html
Climate crisis: 50 photos of extreme weather around the world – in pictures: https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2021/jul/19/climate-crisis-weather-around-world-in-pictures-wildfires-floods-winds
Greenland: enough ice melted on single day to cover Florida in two inches of water: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/30/greenland-ice-sheet-florida-water-climate-crisis
China evacuates tens of thousands as storms spread north: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-orders-immediate-review-subway-flood-controls-rains-continue-2021-07-22/

Comment and analysis

Satellite imaging reveals increased proportion of population exposed to floods: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03695-w
How summer 2021 has changed our understanding of extreme weather: https://theconversation.com/how-summer-2021-has-changed-our-understanding-of-extreme-weather-165268
Top US scientist on melting glaciers: ‘I’ve gone from being an ecologist to a coroner’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/21/climate-crisis-glacier-diana-six-ecologist
Heatwaves, fires and floods: Extreme weather events offer a grim look at a future with climate change: https://inews.co.uk/news/world/extreme-weather-events-last-30-days-climate-change-impact-fears-1113990
Catastrophic floods could hit Europe far more often, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/21/catastrophic-floods-could-hit-europe-far-more-often-study-finds

Study: Cost of carbon emissions measured in lives lost is high: https://www.axios.com/high-cost-of-carbon-emissions-measured-in-mortality-c65ba576-e301-40ae-b708-cf3a37e5eed5.html

A 3°C world has no safe place: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/24/a-3degc-world-has-no-safe-place

IPPR - Fairness and Opportunity: A people-powered plan for the green transition: https://www.ippr.org/fairness-and-opportunity/

‘Net zero’ carbon targets are dangerous distractions from the priority of cutting emissions says new Oxfam report: https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/net-zero-carbon-targets-are-dangerous-distractions-priority-cutting-emissions-says

Offshore wind turbines could number 30,000 by 2030 – new ideas in ocean engineering are needed to install them: https://theconversation.com/offshore-wind-turbines-could-number-30-000-by-2030-new-ideas-in-ocean-engineering-are-needed-to-install-them-162618

Think reusable straws, wraps, and cups are always better for the environment? Think again: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/07/think-that-reusable-straw-or-sandwich-wrap-is-better-for-the-environment-think-again/

UK hosts 51 countries for climate talks ahead of COP26: https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/uk-hosts-51-countries-for-climate-talks-ahead-of-cop26/

Cop26 100-day countdown: UK must lead if world is to avert ‘climate catastrophe’, says Sadiq Khan: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cop26-100-days-sadiq-khan-b1888155.html

COP26 'should be hybrid event' says former climate chief Figueres: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58055854

Anger as Johnson’s Cop26 spokeswoman Allegra Stratton suggests ‘not rinsing dishes’ to tackle climate crisis: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/allegra-stratton-cop26-micro-steps-b1891552.html

Allegra Stratton, once merely the liability’s spokesperson, is becoming a liability all of her own: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/allegra-stratton-electric-car-dishes-cop26-b1896026.html

‘Lightbulb moment’: the battery technology invented in a Brisbane garage that is going global: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/18/lightbulb-moment-the-battery-technology-invented-in-a-brisbane-garage-that-is-going-global

Greening the (bit)coin: https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/greening-the-coin/

Active travel & transport

Lancet collection - Physical Activity 2021: https://www.thelancet.com/series/physical-activity-2021

Use of natural experimental studies to evaluate 20mph speed limits in two major UK cities: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140521001717

Multi-million pound boost to cycling and walking budget: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Multi-million-pound-boost-to-cycling-and-walking-budget/52708

Pedestrians get priority as UK unveils changes to Highway Code: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/30/pedestrians-get-priority-as-uk-unveils-changes-to-highway-code

Cargo bikes deliver faster and cleaner than vans, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/05/cargo-bikes-deliver-faster-and-cleaner-than-vans-study-finds

Leading the charge! Can I make it from Land’s End to John o’Groats in an electric car? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/28/leading-the-charge-can-i-make-it-from-lands-end-to-john-ogroats-in-an-electric-car

Air quality & pollution

Exploring how air pollution in indoor spaces affects human health: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/07/exploring-how-air-pollution-in-indoor-spaces-affects-human-health.aspx

Air pollution exposure is shifting from outdoor to indoor – here’s why: https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-exposure-is-shifting-from-outdoor-to-indoor-heres-why-163410

Green infrastructure can limit but not solve air pollution injustice: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24892-1

‘Great concern’ as study finds microplastics in human placentas: https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/great-concern-as-study-finds-microplastics-in-human-placentas/amp/

Post-Brexit Britain Fumbles Exports of Plastic Waste: https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/post-brexit-britain-fumbles-exports-of-plastic-waste/

Food and food security

Tightening the Net: Net zero climate targets – implications for land and food equity: https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/tightening-the-net-net-zero-climate-targets-implications-for-land-and-food-equ-621205/

How food prices are affected by oil, trade agreements and climate change: https://theconversation.com/how-food-prices-are-affected-by-oil-trade-agreements-and-climate-change-164652

WBA Assesses World’s 350 Most Influential Food/Agriculture Companies On Sustainability Commitments: https://www.environmentalleader.com/2021/07/wba-assesses-worlds-350-most-influential-food-agriculture-companies-on-sustainability-commitments/

Lockdown weight gain: telling people to eat less has never been the answer: https://theconversation.com/lockdown-weight-gain-telling-people-to-eat-less-has-never-been-the-answer-165137

WMHPG news, information and resources 29 July 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Sustainable development goals

Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/lifeexpectancies/articles/ethnicdifferencesinlifeexpectancyandmortalityfromselectedcausesinenglandandwales/2011to2014

A caring tax rise? The impacts of a potential increase in National Insurance: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/a-caring-tax-rise/

Universal Credit: What Needs To Change To Make It Fit For Children And Families? https://cpag.org.uk/policy-and-campaigns/briefing/universal-credit-what-needs-change-make-it-fit-children-and-families

Seaside towns: why living on the coast is linked to poor health - by a professor who grew up there: https://theconversation.com/seaside-towns-why-living-on-the-coast-is-linked-to-poor-health-by-a-professor-who-grew-up-there-165113

People in low-paid, insecure work faced a rising tide of employment uncertainty in 2020: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/people-low-paid-insecure-work-faced-rising-tide-employment-uncertainty-2020

Healthy planning & environment

Comment on the new NPPF

Blog: English planning’s darkest hour? - Hugh Ellis: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Blog/blog-english-plannings-darkest-hour-hugh-ellis

Press Release: TCPA responds to Minister's 'Building Beautiful Places' plan: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/news/press-release-tcpa-responds-to-ministers-building-beautiful-places-plan

Excellent new resource - Public Health Wales e-briefing – Green Opportunities Summer 2021: https://phwwhocc.co.uk/resources/green-opportunities-summer-2021/ “Green Opportunities is a new e-briefing from the Health and Sustainability Hub. The quarterly updates capture learning to aid Wales’ green recovery from COVID-19, identifying sustainable opportunities to support population health.”

Summer appetiser: Revised NPPF published with a few changes from those consulted on: https://lichfields.uk/blog/2021/july/22/summer-appetiser-revised-nppf-published-with-a-few-changes-from-those-consulted-on/

World Heritage Committee agrees not to place Great Barrier Reef on ‘in danger’ list: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/23/world-heritage-committee-agrees-not-to-place-great-barrier-reef-on-in-danger-list

UN biodiversity summit to be delayed for third time – sources: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-environment-biodiversity-cop15/un-biodiversity-summit-to-be-delayed-for-third-time-sources-idUSKBN2EY2J0

Spending time in nature improves mental health: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/spending-time-in-nature-improves-mental-health/

Housing

House prices: should we welcome a crash? http://www.dannydorling.org/?p=8393&s

Keep up COVID funding to end homelessness, says Kerslake: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Keep-up-COVID-funding-to-end-homelessness-says-Kerslake/52686

Climate change & sustainability

Met Office - State of the UK Climate: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/about/state-of-climate

State of the climate: 2021 sees widespread climate extremes despite a cool start: https://www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the-climate-2021-sees-widespread-climate-extremes-despite-a-cool-start
UK already undergoing disruptive climate change: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57988023
Extreme weather will be the norm and UK is not prepared, scientists warn: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/29/extreme-weather-will-be-the-norm-and-uk-is-not-prepared-report-warns

Extreme weather events across the world.

Homes evacuated in Turkey as forest fire rages near southern coast: https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/28/homes-evacuated-in-turkey-as-forest-fire-rages-near-southern-coast
'Out of control': Greek wildfire rages through forest near Athens: https://www.euronews.com/2021/07/27/out-of-control-greek-wildfire-rages-through-forest-near-athen
Severe floods hammer Costa Rica, two dead: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/severe-floods-hammer-costa-rica-two-dead-2021-07-26/
Forest fires in the Amazon released more CO2 than the whole of the UK: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/forest-fires-in-the-amazon-released-more-co2-than-the-whole-of-the-uk/
Wildfires in U.S., Siberia are unusually intense, setting emissions records: https://www.axios.com/us-canada-siberia-wildfires-unusually-intense-fdaf35a1-59fc-47d6-84e2-3b1b0867cac0.html
From coal to cars, Chinese floods tangle supply chains: https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/coal-cars-chinese-floods-tangle-supply-chains-2021-07-22/

Analysis and wider comment on extreme weather.

Extreme weather renews focus on climate change as scientists update forecasts: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/extreme-weather-renews-focus-climate-change-scientists-update-forecasts-2021-07-26/
Summer of floods: The climate connection behind deadly downpours around the world: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2021/world-floods-climate/
As climate impacts surge, UN science report to examine 'black swan' events: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-science-impacts-trfn/as-climate-impacts-surge-un-science-report-to-examine-black-swan-events-idUSKBN2EQ20R
Extreme weather: What causes flash flooding? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57969877
As scientists have long predicted, warming is making heatwaves more deadly: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/07/as-scientists-have-long-predicted-warming-is-making-heatwaves-more-deadly/
Central Europe staggers toward recovery from catastrophic flooding: more than 200 killed: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/07/central-europe-staggers-toward-recovery-from-catastrophic-flooding-more-than-200-killed/
Video shows salmon injured by unlivable water temperatures after heatwave: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/27/salmon-boiled-alive-pacific-north-west-heatwave-video

Increasing probability of record-shattering climate extremes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01092-9

World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency 2021: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biab079/6325731

Scientists who declared climate emergency two years ago say Earth’s vital signs have worsened: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/climate-emergency-earth-vital-signs-b1891724.html

G20 coal impasse previews fraught UN climate summit: https://www.axios.com/g20-coal-use-un-climate-summit-4434de64-1fa5-49b2-ae87-44e11adf0f9f.html

The Guardian view on the climate summit: 100 days to save the world: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/23/the-guardian-view-on-the-climate-summit-100-days-to-save-the-world

Climate change: Researchers begin discussions on vital report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57944015

The Direct-Air Capture Debate: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/03/the-direct-air-capture-debate/

How to game the system: When it comes to climate, stories are just as important as science: https://theecologist.org/2021/jul/22/how-game-system

Queen secretly lobbied Scottish ministers for climate law exemption: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/28/queen-secretly-lobbied-scottish-ministers-climate-law-exemption

Join the Green Party to save planet, says Boris Johnson’s climate spokesperson: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/boris-johnson-stratton-green-party-b1892060.html

Active travel & transport

Have A Good Trip! Expanding Our Concepts Of The Quality Of Everyday Travelling With Flow Theory: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23800127.2021.1912947

Pedestrian deaths and large vehicles: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212012221000241

The Transport Decarbonisation Plan: The work starts here: https://greenertransportsolutions.com/insight/the-work-starts-here/

CMA warns about postcode lottery in electric vehicle charging: https://www.localgov.co.uk/CMA-warns-about-postcode-lottery-in-electric-vehicle-charging/52674

Electric car charging prices 'must be fair' say MPs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57963912

Government to rethink £27bn road building strategy because of ‘changes to travel’ after Covid: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/uk-road-building-covid-travel-b1888836.html

Motor City Of Birmingham To Throttle Short Car Journeys: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2021/07/27/motor-city-of-birmingham-to-throttle-short-car-journeys/

Air quality & pollution

Air pollution linked to increased risk of death from Alzheimer’s: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/07/23/air-pollution-linked-to-increased-risk-of-death-from-alzheimers/

Shipping industry to pay for pollution under new EU proposals: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/shipping-industry-to-pay-for-pollution-under-new-eu-proposals/

Why chemical pollution is turning into a third great planetary crisis: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133440-700-why-chemical-pollution-is-turning-into-a-third-great-planetary-crisis/

Microbes in cow stomachs can decompose plastic: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/07/microbes-in-cow-stomachs-can-decompose-plastic/

Food and food security

National food strategy: what’s in it for population health? https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1865.full

New map reveals rates of hunger at local authority level: https://www.localgov.co.uk/New-map-reveals-rates-of-hunger-at-local-authority-level/52670 - Interactive map here - https://shefuni.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?appid=8be0cd9e18904c258afd3c959d6fc4d7

Madagascar famine becomes first in history to be caused solely by climate crisis: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/madagascar-famine-climate-crisis-b1888058.html

Climate change may lead to global malnutrition: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/climate-change-may-lead-to-global-malnutrition/

Investigation: How the Meat Industry is Climate-Washing its Polluting Business Model: https://www.desmog.com/2021/07/18/investigation-meat-industry-greenwash-climatewash/

The Tricky Business of Tipping Cows: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/05/the-tricky-business-of-tipping-cows/

And finally….

WMHPG news, information and resources 16 July 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Sustainable development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/sustainable-development-goals-report-2021

ONS - Good data from any source can help us report on the global goals to the UN: https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2021/07/13/good-data-from-any-source-can-help-us-report-on-the-global-goals-to-the-un/

Local government funding and life expectancy in England: a longitudinal ecological study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266721001109 “Our findings indicate that cuts in funding for local government might in part explain adverse trends in life expectancy. Given that more deprived areas showed greater reductions in funding, our analysis suggests that inequalities have widened.”

JRF – Annual Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2021: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/minimum-income-standard-uk-2021

Boris Johnson’s £11.6bn climate fund to be swiped from aid budget: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/climate-fund-boris-johnson-aid-cop26-b1877116.html

Global Britain should restore its foreign aid spending pledge: https://www.ft.com/content/57d478f0-f291-4007-8345-df6ee8385a3c

The Guardian view on slashing foreign aid: Britain is abandoning the desperate: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/13/the-guardian-view-on-slashing-foreign-aid-britain-is-abandoning-the-desperate

Living standards, poverty and inequality in the UK: 2021: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/15512

More than 1m children from key worker families living in poverty, says TUC: https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2021/jul/14/more-than-1m-children-from-key-worker-families-living-in-poverty-says-tuc

Healthy planning & environment

Heart health: design cities differently and it can help us live longer: https://theconversation.com/heart-health-design-cities-differently-and-it-can-help-us-live-longer-162038

The six tests: the system that campaigners are using to assess the new planning bill: https://www.cpre.org.uk/news/six-tests-that-campaigners-are-using-to-assess-new-planning-bill/

Housing

The Rebuilding Britain Index – Levelling up our local communities: https://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/media/18576/rebuilding-britain-index-wave-2-060721.pdf

Affordable housing is UK's 'poorest performing measure' finds research: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Affordable-housing-is-UKs-poorest-performing-measure-finds-research/52614

Climate change & sustainability

Wide coverage of extreme weather events. Much of the focus has been on heatwaves in North America, but these events are worldwide.

5 million deaths a year are caused by abnormal temperatures: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/5-million-deaths-a-year-are-caused-by-abnormal-temperatures/
‘Heat dome’ probably killed 1bn marine animals on Canada coast, experts say: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/08/heat-dome-canada-pacific-northwest-animal-deaths
Nordic countries endure heatwave as Lapland records hottest day since 1914: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/06/heatwave-hits-nordic-countries-lapland-temperature-
Flooding rains keep hitting New York City. Another round is expected Monday night: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/07/12/flooding-rain-new-york-city/
Planes dump water on Siberian wildfires as residents plead for help: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/planes-dump-water-siberian-wildfires-residents-plead-help-2021-07-13/
Urban heat island effect exacerbating summer heatwaves, study shows: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/14/urban-heat-island-effect-heatwave
US heatwave: Could US and Canada see the worst wildfires yet? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/57770728
World ‘must step up preparations for extreme heat’: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/07/world-must-step-up-preparations-for-extreme-heat

EU “Fit for 55” - European Green Deal: Commission proposes transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3541

EU unveils sweeping climate change plan: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57833807

‘Fit-for-55’ package: Squaring the circle: https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/fit-for-55-package-squaring-the-circle/
EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ is unfit and unfair: https://eeb.org/eus-fit-for-55-is-unfit-and-unfair-ngos-say/
‘Horny for 40.’ Fit for 55. EU’s climate plan branding raises eyebrows.: https://www.politico.eu/article/horny-for-40-fit-for-55-eus-climate-plan-branding-raises-eyebrows/

IPPR – Fairness and opportunity: A people-powered plan for the green transition: https://www.ippr.org/environment-and-justice

Climate change: Amazon regions emit more carbon than they absorb: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57839364 - original paper here - Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03629-6

Mosquito-borne diseases will affect billions of people as the planet warms: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/mosquito-borne-diseases-are-predicted-to-affect-billions-as-planet-warms/

Climate change: Ministers abandon plans to set out low-carbon heating strategy before summer break following disagreements inside government: https://news.sky.com/story/climate-change-ministers-abandon-plans-to-set-out-low-carbon-heating-strategy-before-summer-break-following-disagreements-inside-government-12355890

Revealed: Fossil fuel companies lobby UK government for gas ‘compromise’ ahead of COP26: https://www.channel4.com/news/revealed-fossil-fuel-companies-lobby-uk-government-for-gas-compromise-ahead-of-cop26

Climate change: 'No more excuses' at COP26 climate summit - poor nations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57839368

Delivering an inclusive Cop26 in the age of Covid-19 requires more than vaccines: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/07/05/delivering-inclusive-cop26-age-covid-19-requires-vaccines/

Feature: Why LGBTQI communities will be disproportionately affected by the climate crisis: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/feature-why-lgbtq-communities-will-be-disproportionately-affected-by-the-climate-crisis/

The climate crisis is driving global conflict – Cop26 is a chance for leaders to rethink security threats: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/opinion/climate-crisis-conflict-security-cop26-b1879530.html

The climate crisis will create two classes: those who can flee, and those who cannot: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/07/global-heating-climate-crisis-heat-two-classes

Active travel & transport

The Government has published plans for decarbonising transport in the UK - Decarbonising Transport: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2021-0088/CDP-2021-0088.pdf

Britain to ban all new diesel and petrol heavy goods vehicles from 2040: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/britain-ban-all-new-diesel-petrol-heavy-goods-vehicles-2040-2021-07-13/

Carry on flying, says government green plan: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57830168

Consultation – Wales: Proposal to reduce speed limit to 20mph on residential streets. Open until 1 October 2021: https://gov.wales/proposal-reduce-speed-limit-20mph-residential-streets

Trains far greener but much more costly than planes, analysis finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/14/trains-far-greener-but-much-more-costly-than-planes-analysis-finds

Air quality & pollution

50% of air pollution comes from 1% of the global surface: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/07/07/50-if-air-pollution-comes-from-1-of-the-global-surface/

PM2.5 is associated with a higher risk of ICU treatment for Covid-19: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/07/09/pm2-5-is-associated-with-a-higher-risk-of-icu-treatment-for-covid-19/

New approach could change how we track extreme air pollution events: https://news.mit.edu/2021/new-approach-could-change-how-we-track-extreme-air-pollution-events-0630

Why are England’s water companies pumping out a tide of sewage? Because they can: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/13/water-companies-britain-seas-sewage-fines-environment-agency

Food and food security

Testing Times for UK Food Policy: Nine principles and Tests: https://foodresearch.org.uk/publications/testing-times-for-uk-food-policy-nine-principles-and-tests/

National Food Strategy published today – National Food Strategy: An independent review for Government: https://www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/

National Food Strategy: Tax sugar and salt and prescribe veg, report says: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57838103
Food Standards Authority - National Food Strategy Part 2: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/national-food-strategy-part-2
Introduce salt and sugar tax and cut meat eating by 30% to tackle health and climate crises, says major report: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/meat-eating-health-climate-nature-b1884223.html
School meals, cooking culture and farm tech: key points of the food strategy: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/15/school-meals-cooking-culture-and-farm-tech-key-points-of-the-food-strategy

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/state-food-security-and-nutrition-world-2021-transforming-food-systems-food-security

Revealed: the true extent of America’s food monopolies, and who pays the price: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/jul/14/food-monopoly-meals-profits-data-investigation

Supporting food security in climate stricken world requires a geographically diverse palate: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/07/supporting-food-security-in-climate-stricken-world-requires-a-geographically-diverse-palate/

Marketing fast food to kids, especially minority kids: https://www.foodpolitics.com/2021/07/marketing-fast-food-to-kids-especially-minority-kids/

WMHPG news, information and resources 25 June 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

The World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’ at Public Health Wales, United Kingdom is leading work to capture and illustrate the Social Value and wider health impact of public health. As part of this project, we have developed a survey to be disseminated via international networks to representatives from National and Regional Public Health Institutes to help develop and promote wider thinking, understanding and work to promote, enable and support a ‘Value-Based Public Health’ approach, through using Social Value and Health Impact Assessment tools. See attached files – survey link here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9XBXDNG

Sustainable development goals

UK aid cuts to Bangladesh NGO a ‘gut punch’, says charity head: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/14/uk-aid-cuts-to-bangladesh-ngo-a-gut-punch-says-charity-head

Time to make energy poverty in Africa a thing of the past: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/6/17/time-to-make-energy-poverty-in-africa-history

World Federation of Public Health Associations - Casebook On Advocacy In Public Health: https://www.wfpha.org/casebook-on-advocacy-in-public-health/

COVID-19 Impact Inquiry – webinar: https://thehealthfoundation.zoom.us/webinar/register/6816218729516/WN_3z3SIOuiSOiVU5_ErqLFYQ

JRF - Freeing low-income single parents from in-work poverty's grip: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/freeing-low-income-single-parents-work-povertys-grip

Legal & General establishes partnership with Sir Michael Marmot to address UK health inequality: https://www.legalandgeneralgroup.com/media-centre/press-releases/legal-general-establishes-partnership-with-sir-michael-marmot-to-address-uk-health-inequality/

The UK’s Living Standards Crisis: https://neweconomics.org/2021/06/the-uks-living-standards-crisis

Healthy planning & environment

Health and Wellbeing in Planning Network: Education of the future Public Health Spatial Planning Workforce event - Friday 2 July, 14:00 – 15:30, MS Teams: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/education-of-the-future-public-health-spatial-planning-workforce-tickets-147162754761

The Future of EIA in a Zonal Planning System: https://lichfields.uk/blog/2021/june/23/the-future-of-eia-in-a-zonal-planning-system/

Guest Blog: Planning reform must increase, not hinder, the supply of genuinely affordable homes - Jonathan Lewis: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Blog/planning-reform-must-increase-not-hinder-the-supply-of-genuinely-affordable-homes

Consensus not culture war is our only hope of building the homes we need: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Blog/blog-when-the-shouting-stops-hugh-ellis

Cities have a green infrastructure blind spot - Carbon footprint standards exist for buildings, but not for the landscaping that surrounds them: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/cities-have-a-green-infrastructure-blind-spot/

Bee-friendly urban wildflower meadows prove a hit with German city dwellers: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/20/bee-friendly-urban-wildflower-meadows-prove-a-hit-with-german-city-dwellers

U.N. warns drought may be 'the next pandemic': https://www.reuters.com/article/un-drought-report/u-n-warns-drought-may-be-the-next-pandemic-idUSL5N2NY51U

Turning off half of city lights at night could cut bird mortality by up to 60 percent: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/turning-off-city-lights-could-dramatically-reduce-bird-collisions/

Housing

Climate advisers warn UK housing is not ready for deadly heatwaves: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/climate-advisers-warn-uk-housing-is-not-ready-for-deadly-heatwaves?tkn=1

Climate change & sustainability

Greenhouse gas emissions from food systems: building the evidence base: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac018e

London Climate Action Week - 26th June - 4th July 2021 - Harnessing The Power Of London For Global Climate Action https://www.londonclimateactionweek.org/

Ashden - Why don’t we just… get serious about green jobs? https://ashden.org/news/why-dont-we-just-get-serious-about-green-jobs/

Commentary on the recent Climate Change Committee report: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2021-progress-report-to-parliament/

CCC: UK will miss climate goals by ‘huge margin’ without new policies: https://www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-uk-will-miss-climate-goals-by-huge-margin-without-new-policies
Britain risks missing climate targets due to lack of policies: advisers: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-britain/britain-risks-missing-climate-targets-due-to-lack-of-policies-advisers-idUSKCN2DZ2R1
UK has done ‘surprisingly little’ to deliver on climate targets, say official advisers: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/06/24/uk-has-done-surprisingly-little-to-deliver-on-climate-targets-say-official-advisers/
PM not delivering on climate promises – advisers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57580254

Why the UK is so unprepared for the impacts of climate change: https://theconversation.com/why-the-uk-is-so-unprepared-for-the-impacts-of-climate-change-162976

Crushing climate impacts to hit sooner than feared: draft UN report: https://au.news.yahoo.com/crushing-climate-impacts-hit-sooner-010253060.html

NOAA index tracks how greenhouse gas pollution amplified global warming in 2020: https://research.noaa.gov/article/ArtMID/587/ArticleID/2759/NOAA-index-tracks-how-greenhouse-gas-pollution-amplified-global-warming-in-2020

UN blasts world leaders for failing to seal £72bn-a-year deal on climate: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/20/un-blasts-world-leaders-for-failing-to-seal-72bn-a-year-deal-on-climate

Most new wind and solar projects will be cheaper than coal, report finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/23/most-new-wind-solar-projects-cheaper-than-coal-report

Wind turbine clash adds to UK-EU post-Brexit tensions: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/17/wind-turbines-clash-adds-to-uk-eu-post-brexit-tensions

Ministers told to reject 'indefensible' Shetland oil field plans: https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19393083.ministers-told-reject-indefensible-shetland-oil-field-plans/

Norway not ready to let go of oil, gas in push for greener energy: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/norway-not-ready-let-go-oil-gas-push-hydrogen-offshore-wind-2021-06-11/

Nuclear energy: Fusion plant backed by Jeff Bezos to be built in UK: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57512229

Heat wave sparks historically unseasonable wildfires in West: https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/559870-heat-wave-sparks-historically-unseasonable-wildfires-in

Head of Independent Sage to launch international climate change group: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/20/head-of-independent-sage-to-launch-international-climate-change-group

Eight ways to make your climate change social media posts matter – from a communication expert: https://theconversation.com/eight-ways-to-make-your-climate-change-social-media-posts-matter-from-a-communication-expert-161026

Active travel & transport

New inquiry will inform the government’s walking and cycling strategy: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/06/16/new-inquiry-will-inform-the-governments-walking-and-cycling-strategy/

All aboard: A plan for fairly decarbonising how people travel: https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/all-aboard

Brussels drafts death sentence for the internal combustion engine car: https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-mulls-dealing-death-blow-gas-guzzling-cars/

Air quality & pollution

Physicians to be better trained on effects of air pollution on health, says college: https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1558

Lead from leaded petrol persists in London air despite ‘90s ban: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/224474/lead-from-leaded-petrol-persists-london/

Air pollution and infertility: the next global crisis? https://airqualitynews.com/2021/06/21/air-pollution-and-infertility-the-next-global-crisis/

Government announces new measures to tackle air pollution: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/06/18/government-announces-new-measures-to-tackle-air-pollution/

UK refuses to commit to immediate lowering of air pollution limits: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/17/uk-refuses-to-commit-to-reduction-of-legal-air-pollution-levels

Interview: How to deal with our growing e-waste mountain: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/interview-how-to-deal-with-our-growing-e-waste-mountain/

Scientists convert used plastic bottles into vanilla flavouring: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/15/scientists-convert-used-plastic-bottles-into-vanilla-flavouring

Plastic rafting: the invasive species hitching a ride on ocean litter: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/14/plastic-rafting-the-invasive-species-hitching-a-ride-on-ocean-litter

Wardrobe Change - It’s time for the textile industry to stop harming our planet: https://wardrobechange.eu/

Food and food security

The impact of climate change on the productivity of conservation agriculture: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01075-w

Government ‘kicking the can down the road’ on actions to tackle food insecurity: https://www.hortweek.com/government-kicking-down-road-actions-tackle-food-insecurity/fresh-produce/article/1719731

Food-related emissions beyond the farm gate are now almost as large as those from farming itself: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/we-overlook-a-major-source-of-food-related-emissions-the-ones-produced-beyond-the-farm/

Robot farmers could improve jobs and help fight climate change – if they’re developed responsibly; https://theconversation.com/robot-farmers-could-improve-jobs-and-help-fight-climate-change-if-theyre-developed-responsibly-162718

Supporting sustainable development in the agricultural sector: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-06/iifa-ssd061721.php

The regenerative ranching racket: https://theecologist.org/2021/jun/14/regenerative-ranching-racket-0

WMHPG news, information and resources 18 June 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

NIHR – Health Determinants Research Collaborations – advance information about a new funding opportunity. “The purpose of an HDRC is to enable its host local authority (LA) to become more research-active, using evidence to inform its decision making and undertaking research and evaluation relating to its activities.”: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/health-determinants-research-collaborations/27855

Sustainable development goals

SDSN Releases 2021 Findings on National, Global Performance Towards SDGs: http://sdg.iisd.org/news/sdsn-releases-2021-findings-on-national-global-performance-towards-sdgs/

UN Sustainable Development Goals: The pandemic as a huge setback: https://pressreleases.responsesource.com/news/101398/un-sustainable-development-goals-the-pandemic-as-a-huge-setback/

It is more urgent than ever that we end the criminalisation of poverty: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/05/21/it-is-more-urgent-than-ever-that-we-end-the-criminalisation-of-poverty/

The public health case for a Green New Deal: https://www.medact.org/2021/resources/briefings/the-public-health-case-for-a-green-new-deal/

COVID-19 Health Inequalities Monitoring in England Tool (CHIME): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-health-inequalities-monitoring-in-england-tool-chime

Outsourcing As A Threat To Public Health: https://neweconomics.org/2021/06/outsourcing-as-a-threat-to-public-health

Majority of public support total ban on UK gambling adverts, poll finds: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/16/majority-of-public-support-total-ban-on-uk-gambling-adverts-poll-finds

Healthy planning & environment

Review on the cooling potential of green roofs in different climates: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721034781

MPs call for councils to be given more powers to tackle ‘land banking’: https://www.localgov.co.uk/MPs-call-for-councils-to-be-given-more-powers-to-tackle-land-banking-/52451

Powering Parks - Unearthing the ground source heat potential from parks and public green spaces across Great Britain: https://www.wearepossible.org/latest-news/powering-parks

Hedgerows are the overlooked climate heroes of new government action plans: https://www.cpre.org.uk/news/hedgerows-are-overlooked-in-new-government-action-plans/

ReconAfrica's plan to drill for oil in the Okavango draws the ire of environmentalists: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/climate/item/4070-reconafrica-s-plan-to-drill-for-oil-in-the-okavango-draws-the-ire-of-environmentalists

Insect population collapse: new evidence links it to dams: https://theconversation.com/insect-population-collapse-new-evidence-links-it-to-dams-162626

Housing

At least 130,000 households in England made homeless in pandemic: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/13/at-least-130000-households-in-england-made-homeless-in-pandemic

Charities warn of a ‘wave of homelessness in coming months’ after eviction ban ends: https://leftfootforward.org/2021/06/charities-warn-of-a-wave-of-homelessness-in-coming-months-after-eviction-ban-ends/

‘Our kids need daylight’: families fight the towers leaving UK homes in shadow: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/13/our-kids-need-daylight-families-fight-the-towers-leaving-uk-homes-in-shadow

MHCLG uses social impact investment to fund homes for rough sleepers: https://www.localgov.co.uk/MHCLG-uses-social-impact-investment-to-fund-homes-for-rough-sleepers/52456

Climate change & sustainability

Local impacts of climate change on winter wheat in Great Britain: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsos.201669

Climate Change Committee – Independent Assessment of UK Risk: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/independent-assessment-of-uk-climate-risk/ - analysis here - CCC: Adaptation to climate risks ‘underfunded and ignored’ by UK government: https://www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-adaptation-to-climate-risks-underfunded-and-ignored-by-uk-government

Wide coverage of the G7 summit – a selection of articles that summarise the key discussions & analysis.

Expert Views-G7 climate commitments judged too weak to bag COP26 success: https://news.trust.org/item/20210613170811-fr6ps/
The G7 failed us on the two biggest issues facing the planet: vaccine equality and climate change: https://inews.co.uk/opinion/g7-failed-covid-vaccine-climate-change-caroline-lucas-1050342
How world leaders’ high-carbon travel choices could delay climate action: https://theconversation.com/how-world-leaders-high-carbon-travel-choices-could-delay-climate-action-162784
Climate change: what G7 leaders could have said – but didn’t: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-what-g7-leaders-could-have-said-but-didnt-162703
G7 offers ‘peanuts’ to developing world, putting climate ambition in doubt: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/06/14/g7-offers-peanuts-developing-world-putting-climate-ambition-doubt/
What Will Bridge The Gap Between G7 Climate Ambitions And Action?: https://www.forbes.com/sites/feliciajackson/2021/06/14/what-will-bridge-the-gap-between-g7-climate-ambitions-and-action/
G7 reaffirmed goals but failed to provide funds needed to reach them, experts say: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/13/g7-reaffirmed-goals-but-failed-to-provide-funds-needed-to-reach-them-experts-say
G7 leaders stumble on coal phaseout timeline: https://www.politico.eu/article/g7-summit-cornwall-coal-phaseout-electrical-power-timeline/

Climate crisis to hit Europe’s coffee and chocolate supplies: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/15/climate-crisis-to-hit-europes-coffee-and-chocolate-supplies

Carbon dioxide peaks near 420 parts per million at Mauna Loa observatory: https://research.noaa.gov/article/ArtMID/587/ArticleID/2764/Coronavirus-response-barely-slows-rising-carbon-dioxide

Seasonal prediction of European summer heatwaves: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00382-021-05828-3

Brutal heatwave to descend on U.S. West, prompting fire warnings: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/brutal-heatwave-descend-us-west-prompting-fire-warnings-2021-06-14/

Climate policy models need to get real about people — here’s how: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01500-2

A couple of articles on the carbon footprint of virtual conference and video calls;

New study quantifies the carbon emissions of virtual conferences: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/02/virtual-conferences-have-a-low-climate-impact-but-not-zero/
To help save the climate, ask yourself if that videoconference could be a voice call: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/to-help-save-the-climate-ask-yourself-if-that-videoconference-could-be-a-voice-call/

Guest post: Hundreds of planned coal mines ‘incompatible with 1.5C target’: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-hundreds-of-planned-coal-mines-incompatible-with-1-5c-target

European airlines have been lobbying against EU climate plans: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2280172-european-airlines-have-been-lobbying-against-eu-climate-plans/

Powering The Just Transition - Putting workers and unions at the centre of industrial change in Yorkshire and the Humber: https://neweconomics.org/2021/06/powering-the-just-transition

Geoengineering: A worst-case Plan B? Or a fuse not to be lit? https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/06/geoengineering-a-worst-case-plan-b-or-a-fuse-not-to-be-lit/

Pacific islands make lonely case for carbon price on shipping: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/06/16/pacific-islands-make-lonely-case-carbon-price-shipping/

Researchers plan to capture carbon from the sea: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/researchers-plan-to-capture-carbon-from-the-sea/

After net zero, we will need to go much further and clean up historic emissions: https://theconversation.com/after-net-zero-we-will-need-to-go-much-further-and-clean-up-historic-emissions-162332

Climate crisis to shrink G7 economies twice as much as Covid-19, says research: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/07/climate-crisis-to-shrink-g7-economies-twice-as-much-as-covid-19-says-research

California, ‘America’s garden,’ is drying out: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/06/california-americas-garden-is-drying-out/

'Quick fixes' to the climate crisis risk harming nature: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57425311

Blood glaciers: why is Alpine snow turning pink? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jun/15/blood-glaciers-why-is-alpine-snow-turning-pink

Why Shell could be making $10bn exit from US shale operations: https://news.sky.com/story/why-shell-could-be-making-10bn-exit-from-us-shale-operations-12332439

Nato considers net zero by 2050 target in move to green military operations: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/06/15/nato-considers-net-zero-2050-target-move-green-military-operations/

Active travel & transport

New app will make choosing public transport easier: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/06/09/new-app-will-make-choosing-public-transport-easier/

China’s electric car leaders predict new energy vehicles will dominate the local market by 2030: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/15/chinas-top-ev-car-makers-predict-new-energy-vehicles-will-dominate.html

Air quality & pollution

Global Burden of Disease-Major Air Pollution Sources. Interactive website - They have estimated the contribution of major sources of air pollution for 204 countries and territories, making the data publicly available on an interactive website.: https://costofairpollution.shinyapps.io/gbd_map_global_source_shinyapp/

On Air Quality: Analysis and Ideas on Tackling Air Pollution: https://policyatmanchester.shorthandstories.com/on-air-quality/index.html

Quarter of UK pupils attend schools where air pollution is over WHO limit: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/17/quarter-of-uk-pupils-attend-schools-where-air-pollution-is-over-who-limit

Air Quality News magazine – free access during pandemic: https://airqualitynews.com/aqn-magazine/

An inshore–offshore sorting system revealed from global classification of ocean litter: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00720-8 “...find that a set of plastic items from take-out food and beverages largely dominates global litter, followed by those resulting from fishing activities.”

Waste collection plans to cost £680m a year, councils warn: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Waste-collection-plans-to-cost-680m-a-year-councils-warn/52458

Bioremediation: The art of cleaning toxic waste with natural materials: https://geographical.co.uk/nature/item/4071-bioremediation-the-art-of-cleaning-toxic-waste-with-natural-materials

Food and food security

Public support for healthy supermarket initiatives focused on product placement: a multi-country cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 International Food Policy Study: https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-021-01149-0 “Most people in the assessed five countries showed a generally high level of support for three placement initiatives in supermarkets to encourage healthy food choices.”

UK-Australia trade deal: what does it mean? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/15/uk-australia-trade-deal-what-does-it-mean-brexit

Tariffs axed immediately on Australian beef and lamb, triggering fears that farmers will be sent ‘to the wall’: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/australia-trade-deal-tariffs-farmers-b1866496.html

WMHPG news, information and resources 03 June 2021

We do not accept responsibility for the availability, reliability or content of these news items and do not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Sustainable development goals

Why investing in women is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.unescap.org/blog/why-investing-women-key-achieving-sustainable-development-goals#

Experts urge minimum alcohol pricing in England after survey shows success: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/29/experts-urge-minimum-alcohol-pricing-in-england-after-survey-shows-success

Webinar – JRF - The Minimum Income Standard in the pandemic and beyond: practical applications. July 14, 11am: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1916220165300/WN_hmSNJkYNRYCNKI6tHboNMg

Fabian Society - Going with the Grain: How To Increase Social Security With Public Support: https://fabians.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Going-with-the-grain-Fabian-Society-lowres.pdf

Economic Growth Without GDP Growth: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/05/18/economic-growth-without-gdp-growth/

Foreign aid: More Conservative rebels join bid to reverse cuts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57338465

English councils start banning smoking outside pubs and restaurants: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/02/english-councils-start-banning-smoking-outside-pubs-and-restaurants

Healthy planning & environment

A global metagenomic map of urban microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00585-7

Investing in Communities Through Placemaking and Play: Playful Learning Landscapes: https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/spaces-to-places/investing-in-communities-through-placemaking-and-play-playful-learning-landscapes

Webinar - Cool and Healthy - Cool Towns meets Health & Greenspace – 21 June 1.30 – 4pm: https://events.lefmarketing.com/cool-towns-meets-health-greenspace-2021

Climate crisis is suffocating the world’s lakes, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/02/climate-crisis-is-suffocating-the-worlds-lakes-study-finds - research paper here - Widespread deoxygenation of temperate lakes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03550-y

Green Space Index: http://www.fieldsintrust.org/green-space-index

Revaluing Parks and Green Spaces: http://www.fieldsintrust.org/revaluing

Return of the Elm: The Plot to Reintroduce the Beloved Tree to Britain: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/item/4063-return-of-the-elm-the-plot-to-reintroduce-the-beloved-tree-to-britain

COVID-19 has shown that following the same road will lead the world over a precipice: https://theconversation.com/covid-19-has-shown-that-following-the-same-road-will-lead-the-world-over-a-precipice-161593

The Ocean Decade: how the next ten years can chart a new course for the blue planet: https://theconversation.com/the-ocean-decade-how-the-next-ten-years-can-chart-a-new-course-for-the-blue-planet-161644

Friday essay: the guitar industry’s hidden environmental problem — and the people trying to fix it: https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-the-guitar-industrys-hidden-environmental-problem-and-the-people-trying-to-fix-it-159211

Housing

Wide coverage of the ending of the pandemic eviction ban and the potential impact on homelessness;

Housing issues surge as end of the eviction ban nears: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/about-us1/media/press-releases/housing-issues-surge-as-end-of-the-eviction-ban-nears/
As 400,000 renters face eviction, JRF warns the UK risks a ‘two-tier recovery’: https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/400000-renters-face-eviction-jrf-warns-uk-risks-%E2%80%98two-tier-recovery%E2%80%99
Renter eviction ban to finish at end of May: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57094031
Nearly a million fear eviction as ban comes to an end – report: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/nearly-million-fear-eviction-ban-end-report-b938075.html
Private renters in England on ‘cliff edge’ as eviction ban ends: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/may/30/private-renters-in-england-on-cliff-edge-as-eviction-ban-ends

One in four Londoners in temporary housing outside their local area: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/02/one-in-four-londoners-in-temporary-housing-outside-their-local-area

Housing: Shelter calls for 90,000 social homes to be built: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57249022

Retrofitting leaky homes would cost £5bn over next four years, UK ministers told: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/28/retrofitting-leaky-homes-would-cost-5bn-over-next-four-years-uk-ministers-told

Climate change & sustainability

The burden of heat-related mortality attributable to recent human-induced climate change: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01058-x “Across all study countries, we find that 37.0% (range 20.5–76.3%) of warm-season heat-related deaths can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change and that increased mortality is evident on every continent.” – more here - https://theconversation.com/one-in-three-heat-deaths-since-1991-linked-to-climate-change-heres-how-else-warming-affects-our-health-161761

Temporary exceedance of 1.5°C increasingly likely: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2021/chance-of-temporarily-reaching-1.5-c-in-next-five-years-is-increasing

UK100 – Power Shift: Research into Local Authority powers related to climate action: https://www.uk100.org/publications/power-shift “Our Power Shift report is the most comprehensive examination of the powers local authorities have and need to deliver on climate ever undertaken. It draws on previous expert reports, including those produced for government, combined with a series of interviews with local authorities and other stakeholder organisations.”

Climate change: six priorities for pulling carbon out of the air: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-six-priorities-for-pulling-carbon-out-of-the-air-161689

WWF - Feeling The Heat: The fate of nature beyond 1.5°C of global warming: https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-06/FEELING_THE_HEAT_REPORT.pdf - more here - Key species at risk if planet heats up by more than 1.5C, report finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/02/key-species-at-risk-if-planet-heats-up-by-more-than-15c-report-finds

What would happen to the climate if we reforested the entire tropics? https://theconversation.com/what-would-happen-to-the-climate-if-we-reforested-the-entire-tropics-160740

G7 nations committing billions more to fossil fuel than green energy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/02/g7-nations-committing-billions-more-to-fossil-fuel-than-green-energy

In the pipeline: networks to warm UK homes using surplus heat: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/28/in-the-pipeline-networks-to-warm-uk-homes-using-surplus-heat

Healthcare must count costs of climate-driven mental illness and eco distress: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/222193/healthcare-must-count-costs-climate-driven-mental/

Airships for city hops could cut flying’s CO2 emissions by 90%: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/airships-for-city-hops-could-cut-flyings-co2-emissions-by-90

The fastest ways aviation could cut emissions: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210525-how-aviation-is-reducing-its-climate-emissions

World's coal producers now planning more than 400 new mines -research: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/worlds-coal-producers-now-planning-more-than-400-new-mines-research-2021-06-03/

Morning After: Coal’s Days Are Over, Taxpayers Face Clean-Up Bills: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/05/27/morning-after-coals-days-are-over-tax-payers-face-clean-up-bills/

Weekly data: The gargantuan task of decarbonising European steel: https://energymonitor.ai/sector/industry/weekly-data-the-gargantuan-task-of-decarbonising-europes-steel

The social contagion of solar packs a lot of power: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/06/the-social-contagion-of-solar-packs-power/

Harnessing the wind: Five things you don’t know about wind energy: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/pauledawson/issues/harnessing-the-wind-five-things-you-don-t-know-about-wind-energy-522876

Flower power: how one company is beautifying the wind turbine: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/02/flower-power-how-one-company-is-beautifying-the-wind-turbine

Major project aims to clear clean energy hurdle: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57313991

Why the climate movement must do more to mobilise older people: https://theconversation.com/why-the-climate-movement-must-do-more-to-mobilise-older-people-161732

Alaska: Biden to suspend Trump Arctic drilling leases: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-57322511

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey doubles down on climate plans: https://www.cityam.com/bank-of-england-governor-andrew-bailey-doubles-down-on-climate-plans/

Active travel & transport

Multi-strategy intervention increases school implementation and maintenance of a mandatory physical activity policy: outcomes of a cluster randomised controlled trial: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/05/25/bjsports-2020-103764

Why the UK must roll out School Streets across the country: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/05/25/why-the-uk-must-implement-school-streets-across-the-country/

Air quality & pollution

It is time to clean up the air in buildings: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/05/29/it-is-time-to-clean-up-the-air-in-buildings

Better data is critical to address health disparities in air pollution’s impacts: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/05/27/better-data-is-critical-to-address-health-disparities-in-air-pollutions-impacts/

Birmingham CAZ could lead to a sea change in attitudes: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/05/28/birmingham-caz-could-lead-to-a-sea-change-in-attitudes/

Food and food security

What are we feeding our kids? https://www.sustainweb.org/blogs/may21-upf/ - programme available on IPlayer : https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000wgcd/what-are-we-feeding-our-kids

Preventing childhood obesity requires a shift in focus away from individual behaviours towards the wider environment: https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/preventing-childhood-obesity-requires-shift-in-focus-away-from-individual-behaviours-towards-wider-environment/

Building a food system that works for everyone: https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/building-a-food-system-that-works-for-everyone

A fair transition for farming: https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/a-fair-transition-for-farming

UK’s fledgling edible insect sector in jeopardy after Brexit: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/uks-fledgling-edible-insect-sector-in-jeopardy-after-brexit

Here’s something to chew on: researchers turn food scraps into materials stronger than concrete: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/05/heres-something-to-chew-on-researchers-have-turned-food-scraps-into-materials-stronger-than-concrete/