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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 23 April 2020

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.

UKPHR – Employers Toolkit - A guide to facilitating UKPHR registration for your public health practitioner workforce: https://ukphr.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/UKPHR-toolkit_V8-FINAL.pdf

Sustainable development goals

Covid-19 vaccines: a game of power jabs: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/04/16/covid-19-vaccines-a-game-of-power-jabs/ “In efforts to “build back better” from covid-19 and “return to normal”, we can—and must—rely on vaccine diplomacy to address this new world order in disease and global health.”

FPH Statement on the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities Report: https://www.fph.org.uk/news-events/fph-news/fph-statement-on-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities-report/

United Kingdom: UN experts condemn “reprehensible” racism report: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27005&LangID=E&s=09

No 10 race report tries to normalise white supremacy, say UN experts: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/19/no-10-race-report-tries-normalise-white-supremacy-un-experts

Tackle poverty and inequality to reduce crime, says police chief: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/18/tackle-poverty-and-inequality-to-reduce-says-police-chief “Retiring head of Merseyside force says if he had £5bn he would spend 20% on policing and 80% on cutting poverty”

British families took bigger hit to income during Covid pandemic than Europeans: https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2021/apr/18/british-families-took-bigger-hit-to-income-than-european-households

More floods, fires and cyclones — plan for domino effects on sustainability goals: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00927-x

In the sustainability race, the Olympic Games are lagging behind: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/04/in-the-sustainability-race-the-olympic-games-are-lagging-behind/

COVID-19 mortality rates twice as high in insecure jobs, TUC finds: https://www.localgov.co.uk/COVID-19-mortality-rates-twice-as-high-in-insecure-jobs-TUC-finds/52184

A Novel Effort to See How Poverty Affects Young Brains: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/upshot/stimulus-children-poverty-brain.html

Racism is the public health crisis: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00775-3/fulltext?s=09

Healthy planning & environment

TCPA - Guide: The 20 Minute Neighbourhood: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/guide-the-20-minute-neighbourhood

Children’s Play and Independent Mobility in 2020: Results from the British Children’s Play Survey: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4334 - media coverage here - UK children not allowed to play outside until two years older than parents’ generation: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/20/gradual-lockdown-of-uk-children-as-age-for-solo-outdoor-play-rises

Slow down and embrace nature – how to create better cities when the pandemic is over: https://theconversation.com/slow-down-and-embrace-nature-how-to-create-better-cities-when-the-pandemic-is-over-155818

That word art! Putting art back into planning - Guide for councils: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/putting-art-back-into-planning

Just 3% of Earth’s land ecosystems remain intact – but we can change that: https://theconversation.com/just-3-of-earths-land-ecosystems-remain-intact-but-we-can-change-that-158587

State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2021: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/state-of-uk-woods-and-trees/

Water scarcity has the potential to both ignite conflict and foster cooperation: http://geographical.co.uk/places/wetlands/item/4015-water-scarcity-has-the-potential-to-both-ignite-conflict-and-foster-cooperation

Trailblazing research uncovers urban gardens as a hidden powerhouse for pollinators: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/03/urban-gardeners-have-a-big-role-to-play-in-protecting-pollinators/

Google Earth time-lapse feature winds clock back 37 years: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56760060 

Housing

Centrepoint research report – A Year Like no Other: Youth homelessness during the COVID pandemic: https://centrepoint.org.uk/media/4773/a-year-like-no-other.pdf

Event – Centre for Homelessness Impact – End it With Evidence (Apr 29, 1-2pm): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/end-it-with-evidence-campaign-launch-tickets-150018564565

700,000 renters hit with unfair eviction notices during pandemic: https://www.generationrent.org/survation_april_2021

Why interventions to improve the welfare of people experiencing homelessness or at risk work or not: An updated evidence and gap map: https://assets-global.website-files.com/59f07e67422cdf0001904c14/605359119515f4b5a3d5a8c4_CHI%20EGM%20Implementation%20second%20edition%202021.pdf

The Housing Guarantee. Report from the Centre for Policy Studies:  http://files.localgov.co.uk/cps.pdf

Rent Guarantees could be key to help Universal Credit claimants unlock the private rental market: https://www.homelessnessimpact.org/post/landlords-trials-2021

Climate change & sustainability

Ashden Awards Longlists

Accelerating permafrost collapse on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abf7f0

A committed fourfold increase in ocean oxygen loss: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22584-4

“Big Words, And Little Action”: Greta Thunberg’s Must-Read Letter To The World: https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/greta-thunberg-earth-day-essay

UK confirms it will set a tougher climate pledge for 2035: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/uk-climate-pledge-2035-emissions-b1834465.html

COP26: Delaying key climate meeting preferable to 'messing it up': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-56738328

'We have a deal': EU to cut emissions by 'at least 55%' by 2030: https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/21/we-have-a-deal-eu-to-cut-emissions-by-at-least-55-by-2030

China and US pledge climate change commitment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-56790077

How addressing climate change can also improve public health: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/04/how-addressing-climate-change-can-also-improve-public-health/

'Chaotic' monsoons threaten India's farmers without climate action: https://www.reuters.com/article/india-monsoon-climate-change/chaotic-monsoons-threaten-indias-farmers-without-climate-action-idUSL4N2M62Q5

Q+A: Joe Biden’s Earth Day summit – what could it achieve for action on climate change? https://theconversation.com/q-a-joe-bidens-earth-day-summit-what-could-it-achieve-for-action-on-climate-change-159457

The @Reuters Hot List: the worlds most influential climate scientists: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/climate-change-scientists/

Gravitricity battery generates first power at Edinburgh site: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56819798

Climate change: Shipping industry calls for new global carbon tax: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56835352

Dalai Lama and 100 other Nobel Prize laureates call for fossil fuels to be phased out: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/21/world/earth-day-dalai-lama-climate-letter-intl/index.html

Science Museum faces backlash over Shell sponsorship of climate exhibition: https://cultureunstained.org/2021/04/16/science-museum-faces-backlash-over-shell-sponsorship-of-climate-exhibition/

Shell plays down risk of stranded oil and gas reserves: https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/shell-plays-down-risk-stranded-oil-gas-reserves-2021-04-15/

Oil firm bosses’ pay ‘incentivises them to undermine climate action’: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/15/oil-firm-ceos-pay-is-an-incentive-to-resist-climate-action-study-finds

Anti-racism must be at the heart of climate action: https://www.bas.ac.uk/blogpost/anti-racism-must-be-at-the-heart-of-climate-action/

Carbon Mapper satellite network to find super-emitters: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56762972

Researchers make concrete greener and stronger with scrap tires: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/04/graphene-from-scrap-tires-makes-concrete-greener-and-stronger/

Active travel & transport

Courting controversy: https://www.transporttimes.co.uk/news.php/Courting-controversy-622/

RAC records sharpest quarterly rise in pothole-related breakdowns on record after cold weather: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/rac-records-sharpest-quarterly-rise-in-pothole-related-breakdowns-on-record/

Air quality & pollution

Using Satellite Data to Map Air Pollution and Improve Health: https://eos.org/articles/using-satellite-data-to-map-air-pollution-and-improve-health

Half of UK children are worried about air pollution: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/04/19/half-of-uk-children-are-worried-about-air-pollution/

2021 Clean Air Day resources published: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/04/19/clean-air-day-2021-resources-published/

Air Quality News Podcast: https://airqualitynews.com/ej-podcast/

Road salts are threatening the world’s water supply: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/road-salts-are-threatening-the-worlds-water-supply/

Microplastics are contaminating our air, new research suggests: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/04/13/microplastics-are-contaminating-our-air-new-research-suggests/

Supermarket ‘bags for life’ must cost more to cut plastic use, urge campaigners: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/18/supermarket-bags-for-life-must-cost-more-to-cut-plastic-use-urge-campaigners

Food and food security

Using social media audience data to analyse the drivers of low-carbon diets: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abf770

Revealed: true cost of Britain’s addiction to factory-farmed chicken: https://theconversation.com/revealed-true-cost-of-britains-addiction-to-factory-farmed-chicken-158555

An ingenious system of farming on floating hyacinth mats offers climate resilience: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/04/an-ingenious-system-of-farming-on-floating-hyacinth-mats-offers-climate-resilience/

Climate change threatens coffee – but we’ve found a delicious wild species that could help save your morning brew: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-threatens-coffee-but-weve-found-a-delicious-wild-species-that-could-help-save-your-morning-brew-159105

The rice of the sea: how a tiny grain could change the way humanity eats: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/09/sea-rice-eelgrass-marine-grain-chef-angel-leon-marsh-climate-crisis

WMHPG news, information and resources 26 March 2020

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

Ending the neglect to attain the sustainable development goals -  A Global Strategy on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022782

Pre-COVID-19 death rates should be a warning for the UK government if it wants to build back better: https://theconversation.com/pre-covid-19-death-rates-should-be-a-warning-for-the-uk-government-if-it-wants-to-build-back-better-157279

Exclusion rates five times higher for black Caribbean pupils in parts of England: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/mar/24/exclusion-rates-black-caribbean-pupils-england

UN Sustainable Development Goals: How companies stack Up: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/03/how-aligned-are-un-companies-with-their-sustainable-development-goals/

Is England’s exit plan from lockdown a road to nowhere? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/02/25/is-englands-exit-plan-from-lockdown-a-road-to-nowhere/

Europe’s Green Transition Must Not Sideline Women: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/03/08/europes-green-transition-must-not-sideline-women/

Healthy planning & environment

The role of public and private natural space in children's social, emotional and behavioural development in Scotland: A longitudinal study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935117313907 “We conclude that neighbourhood natural space may reduce social, emotional and behavioural difficulties for 4–6 year olds, although private garden access may be most beneficial.”

Gardening for health and wellbeing - How gardens boost your mental and physical health: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/health-and-wellbeing

The City We Want: Against the Banality of Urban Planning Research: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14649357.2021.1893588

Disease outbreaks more likely in deforestation areas, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/24/disease-outbreaks-more-likely-in-deforestation-areas-study-finds

Wildfires: we calculated how climate change will increase danger in the UK: https://theconversation.com/wildfires-we-calculated-how-climate-change-will-increase-danger-in-the-uk-157665

We can protect only a subset of the ocean; which piece should we choose? https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/03/protecting-subsets-of-the-ocean-is-more-beneficial-than-we-thought/

PROTECT: Liverpool City Council makes pioneering commitment to protect all parks and green spaces forever: http://www.fieldsintrust.org/News/liverpool-city-council-pioneering-commitment-to-protect-all-parks-forever

How You Can Help #Restorenature And Why It Is Important: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/03/17/how-you-can-help-restorenature-and-why-it-is-important/

Only the lonely: An endangered bird is forgetting its song as the species dies out: https://theecologist.org/2021/mar/17/only-lonely

Millions of oysters rescued from struggling trade to restore US marine ecosystems: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/oceans/item/3990-millions-of-oysters-rescued-from-struggling-trade-to-restore-us-marine-ecosystems

UN’s Kunming biodiversity summit delayed a second time: https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/uns-kunming-biodiversity-summit-delayed-a-second-time/

The Impact of Transatlantic Slavery on England’s Built Environment: a Research Audit: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/the-slave-trade-and-abolition/audit-of-slavery-connections-with-englands-built-environment

People, Place and Policy Conference 2021 7-8 July 2021: https://sites.google.com/view/pppconference2021/

Pioneering rewilding project faces ‘catastrophe’ from plan for new houses: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/21/pioneering-rewilding-project-faces-catastrophe-from-plan-for-new-houses

Housing

Homelessness and Universal Credit: https://www.gov.scot/news/homelessness-and-universal-credit/

Stepping Out On To The Road: The Housing To 2040 Roadmap: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/stepping-out-on-to-the-road-the-housing-to-2040-roadmap/

One in seven adults worried they will become homeless due to pandemic, research shows: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/inequality-coronavirus-polling-liberty-disabled-homeless-poverty-b1817301.html

The link between racist housing policies of the past and the climate risks of today: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/03/the-link-between-racist-housing-policies-of-the-past-and-the-climate-risks-of-today/

Green plan to upgrade homes was 'botched', say MPs: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56463173

Climate change & sustainability

Alok Sharma - Time is running short – but we can get a grip on the climate crisis: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/18/climate-crisis-cop26-president-global-targets

Humpback whales change their migration patterns as the climate warms: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/03/humpback-whales-change-their-migration-patterns-as-the-climate-warms/

Bottom trawling releases as much carbon as air travel, landmark study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/17/trawling-for-fish-releases-as-much-carbon-as-air-travel-report-finds-climate-crisis

Researchers prove the link between man-made climate change and flood-risk in the Andes: http://geographical.co.uk/places/mountains/item/3989-the-link-between-man-made-climate-change-and-flood-risk-in-the-andes-is-proven

London is underprepared for the climate crisis, report says: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/london-is-underprepared-for-climate-crisis-report-says/

Climate Anxiety Is an Overwhelmingly White Phenomenon: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-climate-anxiety/

Destination net zero: setting and delivering ambitious, credible targets: https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_781321_smxx.pdf?mc_cid=382c328dc2&mc_eid=9a7f181f0f

One of Earth’s giant carbon sinks may have been overestimated – study: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/24/soils-ability-to-absorb-carbon-emissions-may-be-overestimated-study

Goldman Sachs released a 34-page analysis of the effects of climate change. And the results are terrifying: https://markets.businessinsider.com/amp/news/goldman-sachs-climate-change-threatens-new-york-tokyo-lagos-cities-2019-9-1028552494

Network for Greening the Financial System: https://www.ngfs.net/en

How Britain decarbonised faster than any other rich country: https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/02/15/how-britain-decarbonised-faster-than-any-other-rich-country

Government announces £1bn plan to decarbonise industry: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/government-announces-1bn-plan-to-decarbonise-industry/

In-depth Q&A: How the UK plans to cut industrial emissions by two-thirds: https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-the-uk-plans-to-cut-industrial-emissions-by-two-thirds

Green light for region’s ambitious net zero carbon plan with funding for new capital projects: https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/green-light-for-region-s-ambitious-net-zero-carbon-plan-with-funding-for-new-capital-projects/

World’s largest floating offshore wind farms set to be built along the Welsh coastline: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/worlds-largest-floating-offshore-wind-farms-built-along-welsh-coastline-928540

UK seeks to drill more oil and gas from North Sea: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56503588

BP plans to build Britain's largest hydrogen plant: https://www.reuters.com/article/bp-decarbonisation/update-1-bp-plans-to-build-britains-largest-hydrogen-plant-idUSL4N2LG2B0

Green groups dispute power station claim that biomass is carbon-neutral: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/23/green-groups-dispute-power-station-claim-biomass-carbon-neutral

Heavy rain, flash flooding batter Australia's east coast: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-weather-idUSKBN2BC04M

CarbonCopy - We Are For Local Climate Action: https://carboncopy.eco/

The Climate Reality Project – Test your knowledge: climate crisis week: https://surveys.signforgood.com/0321_winterweather?emci=81304f0f-c988-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=ed3dbf62-c988-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=75587

Australia's climate policies not ambitious enough for summit invite, Boris Johnson told Scott Morrison: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/24/australias-climate-policies-not-ambitious-enough-for-summit-invite-boris-johnson-told-scott-morrison

World's largest coal miner Coal India bets on solar, eyes further mine closures: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-coal-india-solar/worlds-largest-coal-miner-coal-india-bets-on-solar-eyes-further-mine-closures-idUSKBN2BF147

Climate fight 'is undermined by social media's toxic reports': https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/21/climate-fight-is-undermined-by-social-medias-toxic-reports

Sea levels are rising fastest in big cities – here’s why: https://theconversation.com/sea-levels-are-rising-fastest-in-big-cities-heres-why-157077 

Active travel & transport

Family income matters! Tracking of habitual car use for school journeys and associations with overweight/obesity in UK youth: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140520301833

At a crossroads: Travel adaptations during Covid-19 restrictions and where next: https://www.creds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/CREDS-Decarbon8-covid-transas-briefing.pdf

Traffic wars: who will win the battle for city streets? https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/mar/25/traffic-wars-who-will-win-the-battle-for-city-streets

Council votes against reinstating Kensington cycle lane: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Council-votes-against-reinstating-Kensington-cycle-lane/52047

UK slashes grants for electric car buyers while retaining petrol vehicle support: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/18/uk-slashes-grants-for-electric-car-buyers-while-increasing-petrol-vehicle-support

HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: March 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hs2-6-monthly-report-to-parliament-march-2021

Transport decarbonisation – metal-heads, petrol-heads and the pandemic: https://www.transporttimes.co.uk/news.php/Transport-decarbonisation-metal-heads-petrol-heads-and-the-pandemic-619/

Air quality & pollution

“Block polluting vehicles to tackle surge in air pollution,” health groups say: https://epha.org/block-polluting-vehicles-to-tackle-surge-in-air-pollution-health-groups-say/

UK on track to miss legal air pollution targets: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/03/18/uk-on-track-to-miss-legal-air-pollution-targets/

Plastic particles pass from mothers into foetuses, rat study shows: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/18/plastic-particles-pass-from-mothers-into-foetuses-rat-study-shows

Researchers discover a way to reliably measure the number of microplastics in an average clothes wash: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/researchers-to-reliably-measure-the-number-of-microplastics-in-an-average-clothes-wash/

Chariots of steel: Barcelona's hidden army of scrap recyclers: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/mar/23/chariots-steel-barcelonas-hidden-migrant-army-scrap-recyclers

Food and food security

Acute hunger set to soar in over 20 countries, warn FAO and WFP: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1382490/icode/

Guest post: How climate change drove food insecurity in the 2007 Lesotho drought: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-climate-change-drove-food-insecurity-in-the-2007-lesotho-drought

Millions sign up to anti-food-waste apps to share their unused produce: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/21/millions-sign-up-to-anti-food-waste-apps-to-share-their-unused-produce

Nine in 10 councils in England see rise in people using food banks: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/21/nine-in-10-councils-in-england-see-rise-in-people-using-food-banks

First-of-its-kind study shows carbon emissions across the entire food production and supply chain: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/03/first-of-its-kind-study-shows-carbon-emissions-across-the-entire-food-production-and-supply-chain/

Revealed: seafood fraud happening on a vast global scale: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/15/revealed-seafood-happening-on-a-vast-global-scale

Food for Thought: The Protein Transformation: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/the-benefits-of-plant-based-meats

WMHPG news, information and resources 5 March 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

How our benefits system was hollowed out over 10 years: https://neweconomics.org/2021/02/social-security-2010-comparison

Unequal Britain: attitudes to inequality in light of Covid: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/unequal-britain-attitudes-to-inequality-in-light-of-covid

As Argentina taxes the rich to pay for the pandemic, the world looks on: https://www.independent.co.uk/world/argentina-tax-rich-covid-latin-america-b1805603.html

Healthy planning & environment

DigitalExposome: Quantifying the Urban Environment Influence on Wellbeing based on Real-Time Multi-Sensor Fusion and Deep Belief Network: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348928436_DigitalExposome_Quantifying_the_Urban_Environment_Influence_on_Wellbeing_based_on_Real-Time_Multi-Sensor_Fusion_and_Deep_Belief_Network

Press Release: Initial TCPA response to MHCLG's NPPF and National Model Design Code proposals: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/news/press-release-initial-tcpa-response-to-mhclgs-nppf-and-national-model-design-code-proposals

London Plan 2021: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/new-london-plan/london-plan-2021

‘Poor floors’: anger over new plans to segregate tower block residents: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/27/poor-floors-anger-over-new-plans-to-segregate-tower-block-residents

A solution for urban storm flooding: https://news.mit.edu/2018/storm-flooding-engineered-urban-green-space-0713

How much can planting trees offset a city’s emissions? https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/03/how-much-can-planting-trees-actually-offset-a-citys-carbon-emissions/

Britain’s moths decline by a third in 50 years, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/03/britain-moths-decline-by-third-50-years-study

UK will no longer use bee-harming pesticide: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55566438

Deforestation in Brazil is 182% higher than the legal target – can international pressure stop Bolsonaro? http://geographical.co.uk/places/forests/item/3979-deforestation-in-brazil-is-182-higher-than-the-legal-target-can-international-pressure-stop-bolsonaro

Housing

National Housing Federation - Our response to the government’s annual rough sleeping snapshot: https://www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blogs/news/nhf-response-to-the-governments-annual-rough-sleeping-snapshot/

Councils fear homelessness ‘tidal wave’: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-fear-homelessness-tidal-wave/51945

The COVID-19 crisis response to homelessness in Great Britain: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/publications/the-covid-19-crisis-response-to-homelessness-in-great-britain/

Climate change & sustainability

Burning embers: synthesis of the health risks of climate change: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abeadd

Carbon Brief – Interactive mapping: Attributing extreme weather to climate change: https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-how-climate-change-affects-extreme-weather-around-the-world

Event - West Midlands Mayoral Climate Hustings: https://www.facebook.com/events/137443984909344

UN: New national climate pledges will only cut emissions ‘by 2%’ over next decade: https://www.carbonbrief.org/un-new-national-climate-pledges-will-only-cut-emissions-by-2-over-next-decade

UK is heading for ‘worst-case scenario’ climate emergency: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/uk-is-heading-for-worst-case-scenario-climate-emergency-warns-the-environment-agency/

Budget 2021: Key climate and energy announcements: https://www.carbonbrief.org/budget-2021-key-climate-and-energy-announcements

Sunak’s Budget Falls Short of U.K.’s Big Climate Ambitions: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-03/sunak-s-budget-falls-short-of-u-k-s-big-climate-ambitions

Budget 2021: Green groups left disappointed by lack of climate-focussed policies: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/budget-2021-green-groups-disappointed-lack-climate-policies-896499

Budget 2021: No 'green revolution' from Sunak: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56270528

National Audit Office - Reducing carbon emissions from cars: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/reducing-carbon-emissions-from-cars/

Current Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation weakest in last millennium: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00699-z

Cumbrian campaigners warn minister of legal action over coalmine: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/25/cumbrian-campaigners-warn-minister-of-legal-action-over-coalmine

A third of top UK firms' CO2 emissions not in line with global climate goals: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/01/a-third-of-top-uk-firms-emit-enough-co2-to-push-up-global-warming-by-27c

Fossil fuel emissions in danger of surpassing pre-Covid levels: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/02/fossil-fuel-emissions-in-danger-of-surpassing-pre-covid-levels

IEA says global CO2 emissions rising again after nearly 6% fall last year: https://www.reuters.com/article/iea-emissions/iea-says-global-co2-emissions-rising-again-after-nearly-6-fall-last-year-idUSL5N2KZ425

Electricity needed to mine bitcoin is more than used by 'entire countries: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/27/bitcoin-mining-electricity-use-environmental-impact

Thames Water hopes to harness human 'poo power' to heat homes: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/26/thames-water-hopes-to-harness-human-poo-power-to-heat-homes

Russian Gas Tanker’s Arctic Ice Voyage Branded ‘Irony Of Our Time’: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrvetter/2021/02/24/russian-gas-tankers-arctic-ice-voyage-branded-irony-of-our-time/

Active travel & transport

Infographic. ISPAH’s Eight Investments That Work for Physical Activity: infographic, animation and call to action: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/20/bjsports-2020-103635

There is a direct link between quality of transport and a country’s health, says charity: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/26/there-is-a-direct-link-between-quality-of-transport-and-a-countrys-health-says-charity/

Can the city cycling boom survive the end of the Covid-19 pandemic? https://theconversation.com/can-the-city-cycling-boom-survive-the-end-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-155913

How coronavirus has highlighted the need for better rural transport: https://theconversation.com/how-coronavirus-has-highlighted-the-need-for-better-rural-transport-155533

Volvo Cars to go fully electric by 2030: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56245618

Electric car batteries need far less raw materials than fossil-fuel cars – study: https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/electric-car-batteries-need-far-less-raw-materials-fossil-fuel-cars-study

Air quality & pollution

Deprived and BAME schoolchildren in London experience greater air pollution burden: https://www.globalcleanair.org/health/deprived-and-bame-schoolchildren-in-london-experience-greater-air-pollution-burden/

Imperial researchers develop roadside barrier design to mitigate air pollution: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/215713/imperial-researchers-develop-roadside-barrier-design/

It's not just oceans: scientists find plastic is also polluting the air: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/26/not-just-oceans-plastic-polluting-air-delhi-smog

Ban polystyrene chips now!: https://theecologist.org/2021/feb/25/ban-polystyrene-chips-now

Food & food security

Trade and Agriculture Commission: Final Report (executive summary): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-and-agriculture-commission-tac/trade-and-agriculture-commission-final-report-executive-summary

A CRISIS WITHIN A CRISIS: The Impact of Covid-19 on Household Food Security: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/a-crisis-within-a-crisis-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-household-food-security/

New specialised support to help those living with obesity to lose weight: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-specialised-support-to-help-those-living-with-obesity-to-lose-weight

Global Food Security Index – United Kingdom: https://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Country/Details#United%20Kingdom

The many ingredients of food security; introducing Natasha Grist and Peter Emmrich from the Norwich Institute of Sustainable Development: https://www.jic.ac.uk/blog/the-many-ingredients-of-food-security-introducing-natasha-grist-and-peter-emmrich-from-the-norwich-institute-of-sustainable-development/

And finally….

The NHS white paper: what it really means for patients: https://usuallyelsewhere.com/2021/02/26/the-nhs-white-paper-what-it-really-means-for-patients/ More from Blithering ICS…

WMHPG news, information and resources 19 February 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

#KeepTheLifeline: urging the Government to keep the £20 UC uplift: https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/keepthelifeline-urging-government-keep-20-uc-uplift

We asked 70,000 people how coronavirus affected them – what they told us revealed a lot about inequality in the UK: https://theconversation.com/we-asked-70-000-people-how-coronavirus-affected-them-what-they-told-us-revealed-a-lot-about-inequality-in-the-uk-143718

One in eight over-55s regularly feel lonely and isolated during COVID-19: https://www.housinglin.org.uk/News/One-in-eight-over-55s-regularly-feel-lonely-and-isolated-during-COVID-19/

Healthy planning & environment

RTPI - Net Zero Transport: the role of spatial planning and place-based solutions: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/netzerotransport “This research was carried out by LDA Design, with City Science and Vectos. It explores how different places can achieve an 80% reduction in surface transport emissions by 2030, as part of a pathway to net zero by 2050.”

Defining the 15-minute city: https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2021/02/08/defining-15-minute-city “The “15-minute city” may be defined as an ideal geography where most human needs and many desires are located within a travel distance of 15 minutes. Here’s what that means.”

Cities where children flourish: considerations for our Pandemic-Formed future: https://theccd.org/blog-post/cities-where-children-flourish-considerations-for-our-pandemic-formed-future/

The Urban Play Framework: An approach for understanding the play experience in cities: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2021/01/27/the-urban-play-framework-an-approach-for-understanding-the-play-experience-in-cities/

National Audit Office - Environmental tax measures: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/environmental-tax-measures/

How border walls threaten species trying to escape rising temperatures: https://theconversation.com/how-border-walls-threaten-species-trying-to-escape-rising-temperatures-155007

Housing

Policy paper: Sustainable warmth: protecting vulnerable households in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-warmth-protecting-vulnerable-households-in-england/sustainable-warmth-protecting-vulnerable-households-in-england-accessible-web-version

Government to bring an end to unsafe cladding with multi-billion pound intervention: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-bring-an-end-to-unsafe-cladding-with-multi-billion-pound-intervention

Grenfell cladding firm ‘arranged’ for products to pass tests, inquiry hears: https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/grenfell-cladding-firm-arranged-for-products-to-pass-tests-inquiry-hears/5110474.article

Grenfell cladding makers did not reveal 'disastrous' fire test data: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/17/grenfell-cladding-makers-did-not-reveal-disastrous-fire-test-data

Housing for people with dementia – are we ready? https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/Housing-for-people-with-dementia-are-we-ready/

Health Service Utilization and Cost Outcomes from a Permanent Supportive Housing Program: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA374-2.html?s=09 US based but with relevance to the UK.

Making a home in the private rented sector: An evidence review: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bURQzv7G6-hAuGPqNT_yVqFNIVr0KshF/view

3D-printed homes build hope for U.S. affordable housing: https://news.trust.org/item/20210215142828-zv3th/

A statistical revaluation of council tax subjects in Wales: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/publications/a-statistical-revaluation-of-council-tax-subjects-in-wales/

Climate change & sustainability

Free book from the Economist – Fight the Fire: Green New Deals and Global Climate Jobs: https://theecologist.org/fight-the-fire

Making it fair: what would a just transition to net zero look like? https://shows.acast.com/the-climate-papers/episodes/making-it-fair-what-would-a-just-transition-to-net-zero-look

Guest post: How global warming is making power plants produce less electricity: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-global-warming-is-making-power-plants-produce-less-electricity

Analysis: Shell says new ‘Brazil-sized’ forest would be needed to meet 1.5C climate goal: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-shell-says-new-brazil-sized-forest-would-be-needed-to-meet-1-5c-climate-goal

Shell’s 'Delusional' Net Zero Strategy Commits $8 Billion to Fossil Fuels: https://www.desmog.co.uk/2021/02/11/shell-net-zero-oil-fossil-fuels

Solar panels in Sahara could boost renewable energy but damage the global climate – here’s why: https://theconversation.com/solar-panels-in-sahara-could-boost-renewable-energy-but-damage-the-global-climate-heres-why-153992

Climate change: Don't raid home insulation scheme, MPs urge ministers: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56089468

Decarbonisation of rural homes at risk due to high costs: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/decarbonisation-of-rural-homes-at-risk-due-to-high-costs/

Cold snap leaves one dead, over 4 million without power in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-weather-texas/update-2-texas-starts-rolling-power-outages-to-cope-with-deep-freeze-idUSL1N2KL0HRtet

Solar geoengineering not a 'sensible rescue plan', say scientists: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/213175/solar-geoengineering-sensible-rescue-plan-scientists/

Climate leaders welcome reforming WTO chief, as carbon trade wars loom: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/02/16/climate-leaders-welcome-reforming-wto-chief-carbon-trade-wars-loom/

How Does Bill Gates Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/books/review/bill-gates-how-to-avoid-a-climate-disaster.html

UK set for first hydrogen homes: https://www.localgov.co.uk/UK-set-for-first-hydrogen-homes/51867

India: activist arrested over protest 'toolkit' shared by Greta Thunberg: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/india-activist-arrested-over-protest-toolkit-shared-by-greta-thunberg

Leeds Bradford Airport expansion approval ‘backwards step for climate’: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/leeds-bradford-airport-expansion-approval-b1801384.html

Time to free fashion from fossil fuel addiction: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/02/11/time-to-free-fashion-from-fossil-fuel-addiction/

Active travel & transport

How Will We Walk Our Cities in The Future? The Contexts and Meaning of How We Walk – Perceive and Build (Urban) Space: https://theccd.org/blog-post/how-will-we-walk-our-cities-in-the-future-the-contexts-and-meaning-of-how-we-walk-perceive-and-build-urban-space/

£1.9 billion boost from walking and cycling: https://www.nature.scot/ps19-billion-boost-walking-and-cycling

Whatever happened to the ‘golden age of cycling’: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/12/whatever-happened-to-the-golden-age-of-cycling/

Covid bike and walking schemes do not delay ambulances, trusts say: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/13/covid-bike-and-walking-schemes-do-not-delay-ambulances-trusts-say

Guidance - Planning local cycling and walking networks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-cycling-and-walking-infrastructure-plans-technical-guidance-and-tools

Climate Group - EV100 Progress and Insights Report 2021: https://www.theclimategroup.org/ev100-annual-report-2021

Jaguar car brand to be all-electric by 2025: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56072019

Charging electric cars ‘will be easier than refuelling petrol or diesel vehicle’: https://www.itv.com/news/2021-02-12/charging-electric-cars-will-be-easier-than-refuelling-petrol-or-diesel-vehicle

Council road repairs cash down £400m next year: http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Council-road-repairs-cash-down-400m-next-year/17135

Air quality & pollution

British Lung Foundation – The Invisible Threat: https://www.blf.org.uk/take-action/clean-air/invisible-threat-report “We set out new analysis showing people who are the most susceptible are being exposed in the places they should feel most safe and call for politicians to immediately commit to air pollution health protection plans and stronger clean air laws before it’s too late.”

National Statistics - Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 – Summary: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants/emissions-of-air-pollutants-in-the-uk-1970-to-2018-summary

Improving air quality should be 'at core' of post-pandemic rebuild: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/139068/improving-air-quality-should-be-at-core-of-postpandemic-rebuild/

Experts identify 'super-plant' that absorbs roadside air pollution: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/18/experts-identify-super-plant-that-absorbs-roadside-air-pollution

The Big Interview: Rosamund Kissi-Debrah (World Health Organisation clean air advocate): https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/09/the-big-interview-rosamund-kissi-debrah/

New air cleaning device can protect bus drivers from air pollution: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/08/new-air-cleaning-device-can-protect-bus-drivers-from-air-pollution/

Why the fight for clean air is a social justice issue: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/15/why-the-fight-for-clean-air-is-a-social-justice-issue/

2022 Winter Olympic Games: Beijing air pollution fears raised in new report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-sports/55981471

Five ways to reduce your household waste – and stop it being shipped to poorer countries: https://theconversation.com/five-ways-to-reduce-your-household-waste-and-stop-it-being-shipped-to-poorer-countries-154123

Food & food security

New UK institute to tackle food insecurity: http://www.fruitnet.com/fpj/article/184212/new-uk-institute-to-tackle-food-insecurity

Scottish Government - Tackling food insecurity and poverty: https://www.gov.scot/news/tackling-food-insecurity-and-poverty/

Food Security and COVID-19: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-and-covid-19

Food Security in Public Health MSc: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/food-security-in-public-health/

And finally….

Beyond Blithering – The Seven Deadly Signals: https://usuallyelsewhere.com/2021/02/12/the-seven-deadly-signals-a-martin-plackard-masterclass/

WMHPG news, information and resources 12 February 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 inequalities in health-related quality of life among older adults in England: secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional survey: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30287-5/fulltext

Wide coverage and comment on the plans to remove the £20 uplift to universal credit;

Decades of progress on extreme poverty now in reverse due to Covid: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/03/decades-of-progress-on-extreme-poverty-now-in-reverse-due-to-covid

On firm ground? The impact of Covid-19 on firms and what policy makers should do in response: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/on-firm-ground/

Healthy planning & environment

Call for abstracts – Environments by Design: Health, Wellbeing and Place (1-3 Dec 2021): https://architecturemps.com/design-health/

Healthy Urbanism: http://www.healthyurbanism.net/

Planning and Public Health professionals’ experiences of using the planning system to regulate hot food takeaway outlets in England: A qualitative study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135382921930783X

The Wildlife Trust challenges ‘unlawful’ use of killer pesticide: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/the-wildlife-trust-challenges-unlawful-use-of-killer-pesticide/

The environmental movement rarely reflects the communities most impacted by climate change: https://foresightdk.com/the-environmental-movement-rarely-reflects-the-communities-most-impacted-by-climate-change/

Nature: how do you put a price on something that has infinite worth? https://theconversation.com/nature-how-do-you-put-a-price-on-something-that-has-infinite-worth-154704

Swede dreams: can Malmö’s green points system help rewild London? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/05/malmo-sweden-success-rewild-london-aoe

Where would birds be without us? https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/02/imagining-a-human-free-world/

Housing

Housing policies and the COVID-19 pandemic: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/our-work/research-projects/housing-policies-and-the-covid-19-panedmic/

Report Launch: Housing for people with dementia – are we ready? A report from an Inquiry by the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People: https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/Launch-APPG-HCfOP-Housing-Dementia-Inquiry-Report/

Hundreds of millions in green grants for English homes pulled despite delays: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/10/hundreds-of-millions-in-green-grants-for-english-homes-pulled-despite-delays

Climate change & sustainability

Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935121000487

UKHACC - This Report Comes With A Health Warning: The Impacts of Climate Change on Public Health: http://www.ukhealthalliance.org/this-report-comes-with-a-health-warning/ “The health of more than 12 million people in the UK – equivalent to the populations of Greater London and Greater Manchester combined – are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – through heatwaves and major flood events.”

Day-to-day temperature variability reduces economic growth: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00985-5

UK considers enacting carbon tax – price of meat, cheese gas heating price could rise: https://www.channel4.com/news/uk-considers-enacting-carbon-tax-price-of-meat-cheese-gas-heating-price-could-rise

Guest post: Why avoiding climate change ‘maladaptation’ is vital: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-why-avoiding-climate-change-maladaptation-is-vital

The catastrophic landslide and flood in Chamoli in Uttarakhand: the sequence of events: https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2021/02/08/chamoli-2/

Guest post: How climate change threatens a Peruvian city with ‘glacial flood’: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-climate-change-threatens-a-peruvian-city-with-glacial-flood

Scientists sceptical of new bat study linking climate change to Covid-19 emergence: https://www.carbonbrief.org/scientists-sceptical-of-new-bat-study-linking-climate-change-to-covid-19-emergence

Cumbria County Council to reconsider plans for new coal mine: https://inews.co.uk/news/cumbria-council-reconsider-plans-coal-mine-climate-crisis-865297

Mark Carney: Climate crisis deaths 'will be worse than Covid': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-55944570

Goldman Sachs released a 34-page analysis of the effects of climate change. And the results are terrifying.: https://markets.businessinsider.com/amp/news/goldman-sachs-climate-change-threatens-new-york-tokyo-lagos-cities-2019-9-1028552494

90% of largest UK companies make no reference to climate change in their accounts: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/90-of-largest-uk-companies-make-no-reference-to-climate-change-in-their-accounts/

Greta Thunberg effect: people familiar with young climate activist may be more likely to act: https://theconversation.com/greta-thunberg-effect-people-familiar-with-young-climate-activist-may-be-more-likely-to-act-154146

Climate Trends - Episode 5: Arctic Warming & “Winter Weirding”: https://climatrends.com/episode-5-arctic-warming/

Tax Slasher Rishi Sunak should use new Brexit freedoms to cut taxes and go green, say experts: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/13990452/rishi-sunak-brexit-cut-taxes-green/

Queen's property manager and Treasury to get windfarm windfall of nearly £9bn: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/08/queens-treasury-windfarm-bp-offshore-seabed-rights

The United Kingdom's wettest day on record – so far – 3 October 2020: https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wea.3910

Updated yardstick begs question: What's 'normal' in a changing climate? https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/02/updated-yardstick-begs-question-whats-normal-in-a-changing-climate/

Covid, climate, and 'dual metabolic rupture': https://theecologist.org/2021/feb/01/covid-climate-and-dual-metabolic-rupture

Climate change undergraduate degree courses: http://geographical.co.uk/schools/item/3958-climate-change-undergraduate-degrees-in-the-uk

Via @MikeHudema - Over 11,000 scientists from 153 countries have banded together to declare a #climateemergency. Listen to them: https://twitter.com/MikeHudema/status/1358456639548981254

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/ “Of the total, 64% of emissions came from network data transfer, 19% from the pre-conference planning meetings, and 11% from computer use during the conference.”

Windship Technology unveils new zero-emission Ship: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/windship-technology-unveils-new-zero-emission-ship/

Climate crisis pushing great white sharks into new waters: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/09/climate-crisis-pushing-great-white-sharks-into-new-waters

Active travel & transport

Half Of All Urban Journeys Must Be Cycled Or Walked Within Ten Years, Confirms U.K. Government: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2021/02/03/half-of-all-urban-journeys-must-be-cycled-or-walked-within-ten-years-confirms-uk-government/

Public transport must have a future after the pandemic: https://www.transporttimes.co.uk/news.php/Public-transport-must-have-a-future-after-the-pandemic-607/

How Sweden is taking back parking spaces to improve urban living: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/08/how-sweden-is-taking-back-parking-spaces-to-improve-urban-living

Road pricing is essential: we must face down the ghosts of past failure: https://www.transporttimes.co.uk/news.php/Road-pricing-is-essential-we-must-face-down-the-ghosts-of-past-failure-608/

Air quality & pollution

Study reveals how air pollution may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-reveals-air-pollution-cardiovascular-disease.amp

Air pollution poses a risk to thinking skills in later life: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/03/air-pollution-poses-a-risk-to-thinking-skills-in-later-life/

Toxic air puts six million at risk of lung damage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56013240

'People should be alarmed': air pollution in US subway systems stuns researchers: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/10/subway-air-pollution-new-york-washington-dc

The great wood burning stove debate: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/05/the-great-wood-burning-stove-debate/

Interview: Jeffrey May, author, building consultant and air quality expert: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/09/interview-jeffrey-may-author-building-consultant-and-air-quality-expert/

A New Study Closes the Case on the Mysterious Rise of a Climate Super-Pollutant: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/10022021/climate-super-pollutant-cfc-11-china-factories/

Councillors warn standardised collections will result in waste and recycling charges: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Councillors-warn-standardised-collections-will-result-in-waste-and-recycling-charges/

Food & food security

Food System Impacts on Biodiversity Loss: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/02/food-system-impacts-biodiversity-loss

And finally….

Name My Think Tank - You’ve gathered your funding, your researchers, maybe a comms person or two. But what will you call yourselves? (Mine came out as ‘Foundation for Community Innovation’): https://namemythinktank.org/

WMHPG news, information and resources 05 February 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

Cutting the lifeline now would be the wrong decision: https://www.jrf.org.uk/press/cutting-lifeline-now-would-be-wrong-decision

Those with the least have suffered the most during the covid-19 pandemic: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/22/those-with-the-least-have-suffered-the-most-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

UK should respond to economic crisis with 1945-style reboot, says CBI chief: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/03/uk-respond-to-economic-crisis-1945-style-reboot-says-new-cbi-chief-danker

Healthy planning & environment

Open consultation - National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code: consultation proposals: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals

Measuring the value of ‘social value’ in planning: https://lichfields.uk/blog/2021/february/3/measuring-the-value-of-social-value-in-planning/

Escaping green deprivation: https://neweconomics.org/2021/01/escaping-green-deprivation

Wide media coverage and comment on the Dasgupta Review – The Economics of Biodiversity;

Blog: Introducing the TCPA’s new strategy for 2021 to 2025 - Fiona Howie: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/blog/blog-introducing-the-tcpas-new-strategy-for-2021-to-2025-fiona-howie

A rapid scoping review of health and wellbeing evidence for the Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards (NEER015): http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4799558023643136

10 tests for a Green Deal-compatible EU farming policy: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/01/22/10-tests-for-a-green-deal-compatible-eu-farming-policy/

Why keeping one mature street tree is far better for humans and nature than planting lots of new ones: https://theconversation.com/why-keeping-one-mature-street-tree-is-far-better-for-humans-and-nature-than-planting-lots-of-new-ones-154114

Housing

Stories from lockdown: Interviews show how poor housing quality made life even more tough: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/stories-from-lockdown-interviews-show-how-poor-housing-quality-made-life-even-more-tough/

Climate change & sustainability

Recent migration of tropical cyclones toward coasts: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6528/514 “Tropical cyclones are becoming stronger and occurring at higher latitudes than in the past. Wang and Toumi report that cyclones' points of maximum intensity also have been coming closer to land since 1982, the distance decreasing by about 30 kilometers per decade as their paths drift poleward and westward”

Getting the message right on nature‐based solutions to climate change: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.15513

Poet Amanda Gorman's 'Earthrise' climate change video: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/poet-amanda-gormans-earthrise-climate-change-video/

Every Country Has Its Own Climate Risks. What’s Yours? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/28/opinion/climate-change-risks-by-country.html

World hammered by record 50 billion-dollar weather disasters in 2020: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/world-hammered-by-record-50-billion-dollar-weather-disasters-in-2020/

Floating solar panels on 1% of reservoirs ‘could double’ Africa’s hydropower capacity: https://www.carbonbrief.org/floating-solar-panels-on-1-of-reservoirs-could-double-africas-hydropower-capacity

Climate experts challenge UK institutions over role of carbon offsetting: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/213913/climate-experts-challenge-uk-institutions-over/

Why the EU’s proposed carbon border levy is an important test for global action on climate change: https://theconversation.com/why-the-eus-proposed-carbon-border-levy-is-an-important-test-for-global-action-on-climate-change-154041

Cumbria coal mine: Government’s own climate advisers slam ministers for allowing UK’s first pit in 30 years: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/cumbria-coal-mine-whitehaven-latest-b1795179.html

World needs to kick its coal habit to start green recovery, says IEA head: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/01/world-kick-coal-habit-start-green-recovery-iea-fatih-birol

Disappearing glaciers are threatening rare alpine plants with extinction: https://theconversation.com/disappearing-glaciers-are-threatening-rare-alpine-plants-with-extinction-154135

Meat, cheese and gas will cost more under new carbon tax: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/04/meat-cheese-gas-will-cost-new-carbon-tax/

Explainer: How China could offer ‘debt swaps’ to help developing nations tackle climate change: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-china-could-offer-debt-swaps-to-help-developing-nations-tackle-climate-change

The clean-energy transition relies on these minerals, yet supply chains are fragile: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/energy/item/3956-2020-highlighted-the-frailties-of-mineral-supply-chains-on-which-the-clean-energy-transition-relies

After a Bruising Year, the Oil Industry Confronts a Diminished Future: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/business/energy-environment/exxon-mobil-bp-2020-loss.html

Shell, BP, and Easyjet: The Big Polluters Designing the Rules for Voluntary Carbon Offsets: https://www.desmog.co.uk/2021/01/22/shell-bp-and-easyjet-big-polluters-designing-rules-voluntary-carbon-offsets

Rich nations' $20b climate adaptation rip off: https://theecologist.org/2021/jan/21/rich-nations-20b-climate-adaptation-rip

French court rules France not doing enough on climate change: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-france-court/french-court-rules-france-not-doing-enough-on-climate-change-idUSKBN2A31XE

EU goes soft on China in hopes of a climate ‘partnership’ while the US plays hardball: https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-soft-china-hopes-climate-partnership-us-plays-hardball/

New grant to help develop world’s first hydrogen flight: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/new-grant-to-help-develop-worlds-first-hydrogen-flight/

Active travel & transport

Following publication of a report by Policy Exchange – Charging Up – a selection of media reports and comments;

New flying car hub set to open in Coventry: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/28/new-flying-car-hub-set-to-open-in-coventry/

Verified: More Parking Puts More Cars on the Road: https://www.sightline.org/2021/01/28/more-parking-isnt-harmless-it-actually-makes-us-drive-more/

Crashes fall by a third after Edinburgh's 20mph limit introduced: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55863412

Air quality & pollution

Air Quality News Magazine: https://airqualitynews.com/aqn-mag-subscribe/

Clean Air Day 2021 to take place on June 17: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/02/01/clean-air-day-2021-to-take-place-on-june-17/

INHALE research project - The project is now looking for healthy or asthmatic volunteers for participation in the study: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/earth-science/research/inhale/research-participants/?mc_cid=9013aadcf6&mc_eid=9a7f181f0f

Air Pollution Linked to Increased Mental Health Outpatient Visits: https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/29809/

Leading cardiovascular organizations call for urgent action to reduce air pollution: https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Leading-cardiovascular-organizations-call-for-urgent-action-to-reduce-air-pollution

Monster Serbian coal plants face legal action after ending hundreds of lives early: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/01/26/monster-serbian-coal-plants-face-legal-action-after-ending-hundreds-of-lives-early/

Why ocean pollution is a clear danger to human health: https://theconversation.com/why-ocean-pollution-is-a-clear-danger-to-human-health-152641

Pollution and economic growth mostly move in sync. But some countries are bucking the trend: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/02/air-pollution-and-economic-growth-go-hand-in-hand-but-they-dont-have-to/

WMHPG news, information and resources 29 January 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

Job opportunity – Leeds Beckett University. Hello everyone - I'd be grateful if you could please pass this on through your own networks. With apologies for cross-posting: We are advertising a 2 year fixed term position for an embedded researcher role at Grade 8 (Senior Research Fellow) to support a city-wide community-led commitment to tackling health inequalities in Leeds. Please take a look!: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CDN308/senior-research-fellow-embedded-researcher

How science can put the Sustainable Development Goals back on track: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00104-0

Mega-rich recoup COVID-losses in record-time yet billions will live in poverty for at least a decade: https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/mega-rich-recoup-covid-losses-record-time-yet-billions-will-live-poverty-least

We must loosen poverty's grip on Black, Asian and ethnic minority people: https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/we-must-loosen-povertys-grip-black-asian-and-ethnic-minority-people

No recourse to public funds: a government policy that traps people in poverty: https://theconversation.com/no-recourse-to-public-funds-a-government-policy-that-traps-people-in-poverty-153658

'Deaths of despair': A tale of two countries: https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/podcast/episode-04-deaths-of-despair “Life expectancy is a key indicator of our health and wellbeing. Across most OECD countries in the last ten years, life expectancy has been stalling – and stalling most in the US and the UK.”

The Grumpy Economist - Minimum wages. People are not all the same: https://johnhcochrane.blogspot.com/2021/01/minimum-wages-people-are-not-all-same.html

Healthy planning & environment

The Liverpool City Region’s Spatial Development Strategy: Show me the numbers! https://lichfields.uk/blog/2021/january/22/the-liverpool-city-region-s-spatial-development-strategy-show-me-the-numbers/

How Europe can grow without growing: https://meta.eeb.org/2021/01/21/how-europe-can-grow-without-growing/

Guest post: The role of ‘atmospheric rivers’ in UK winter floods: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-the-role-of-atmospheric-rivers-in-uk-winter-floods

Warning over mental health effects of floods in the UK: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/24/warning-over-mental-health-effects-of-floods-in-the-uk

Five unusual technologies for harvesting water in dry areas: https://theconversation.com/five-unusual-technologies-for-harvesting-water-in-dry-areas-154031

Judge throws out Khan's 'great reallocation': http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Judge-throws-out-Khans-great-reallocation/17089

Biodiversity: why foods grown in warm climates could be doing the most damage to wildlife: https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-why-foods-grown-in-warm-climates-could-be-doing-the-most-damage-to-wildlife-147584

European bison recovering, 31 species declared Extinct – IUCN Red List: https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202012/european-bison-recovering-31-species-declared-extinct-iucn-red-list

Housing

Centre for Homelessness Impact - The Centre for Homelessness Impact is an independent organisation that supports the use of data and evidence in bringing about a sustainable end to homelessness: https://www.homelessnessimpact.org/about

Delivering more homes and better places: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/publications/delivering-more-homes-and-better-places/

The social and economic consequences of housing wealth inequalities: https://housingevidence.ac.uk/publications/the-social-and-economic-consequences-of-housing-wealth-inequalities/

All social high-rise buildings take action on dangerous cladding: https://www.localgov.co.uk/All-social-high-rise-buildings-take-action-on-dangerous-cladding/51730

The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe – here’s how to fix this: https://theconversation.com/the-uk-has-some-of-the-least-energy-efficient-housing-in-europe-heres-how-to-fix-this-151609

Buyers of brand-new homes face £20,000 bill to make them greener: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/buyers-of-brand-new-homes-face-20000-bill-to-make-them-greener

Climate change & sustainability

Climate crisis: world is at its hottest for at least 12,000 years – study: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/climate-crisis-world-now-at-its-hottest-for-12000-years

Social Cost of Carbon 101: https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/social-cost-carbon-101/

The Peoples' Climate Vote: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/climate-and-disaster-resilience-/The-Peoples-Climate-Vote-Results.html “With 1.2 million respondents, the Peoples' Climate Vote is the largest survey of public opinion on climate change ever conducted. Using a new and unconventional approach to polling, results span 50 countries covering 56% of the world's population.”

Wide coverage of the new US governments plans to address the climate emergency;

Renewables overtake fossil fuels for first time in UK as Europe transitions to green energy: https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/uk-news/renewable-power-fossil-fuels-b1793620.html

Climate: Government postpones Environment Bill again: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55799191

Global Ice Loss on Pace to Drive Worst-Case Sea Level Rise: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25012021/global-ice-loss-sea-level-rise/

Carbon emissions fell across all sectors in 2020 except for one – SUVs: https://www.iea.org/commentaries/carbon-emissions-fell-across-all-sectors-in-2020-except-for-one-suvs

A guide to building climate-financial scenarios for financial institutions: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/publications/economics-and-finance/a-guide-to-building-climate-financial-scenarios-for-financial-institutions.php

Legal bid to stop UK building Europe's biggest gas power plant fails: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/21/climate-crisis-uk-legal-bid-stop-biggest-gas-power-station-europe-fails

How climate change is reducing numbers of humpback whale calves in the north-west Atlantic: https://theconversation.com/how-climate-change-is-reducing-numbers-of-humpback-whale-calves-in-the-north-west-atlantic-153589

Boeing says it will make planes able to fly on 100% biofuel by 2030: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/23/boeing-says-it-will-make-planes-able-to-fly-on-100-biofuel-by-2030

Heat pumps and EVs set to become the norm: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/22/heat-pumps-and-evs-set-to-become-the-norm/

NGOs seek to convict French state of failing to tackle climate crisis: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/ngos-seek-convict-french-state-failing-tackle-climate-crisis

Active travel & transport

MyBrake: Helping you make a difference to safe and healthy mobility - MyBrake gives you the tools and guidance to help you make a difference to safe and healthy mobility, whether with your family and friends, your community, your workplace, or nationally: https://www.brake.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/mybrake

Smart motorway danger revealed as less than half of drivers are aware of the rules: https://www.brake.org.uk/how-we-help/raising-awareness/our-current-projects/news-and-blogs/smart-motorway-danger-revealed-as-less-than-half-of-drivers-are-aware-of-the-rules

How superfast charging batteries can help sell the transition to electric vehicles: https://theconversation.com/how-superfast-charging-batteries-can-help-sell-the-transition-to-electric-vehicles-153872

Shell agrees deal to buy electric car-charging company ubitricity: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/25/shell-agrees-deal-to-buy-electric-car-charging-company-ubitricity

Air quality & pollution

Association of ambient air pollution with age-related macular degeneration and retinal thickness in UK Biobank: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/11/bjophthalmol-2020-316218

Social Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution: A Systematic Review in the WHO European Region: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/17/3127?s=09

Tackling London’s air pollution will increase life expectancy of children: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/213273/tackling-londons-pollution-will-increase-life/

Air pollution linked to asthma in children, BMJ study finds: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/asthma-children-air-pollution-study-latest-treatment-a9678781.html

99% of London exceeds WHO air pollution limits: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/25/99-of-london-exceeds-who-air-pollution-limits/

UK mayors urge Boris Johnson to commit to tougher air pollution targets: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/uk-mayors-boris-johnson-tougher-air-pollution-targets

Plastic packaging: which supermarket topped this year’s league table? https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/supermarket-plastic-league-table-rankings/

Chris Packham joins fight to end UK’s 'embarrassing' plastic waste exports: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/chris-packham-joins-fight-to-end-uks-embarrassing-plastic-waste-exports

Food & food security

English obesity policies have long been unfit for purpose, but they are improving – new research: https://theconversation.com/english-obesity-policies-have-long-been-unfit-for-purpose-but-they-are-improving-new-research-153659

WMHPG news, information and resources 22 January 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

Resolution Foundation - The Living Standards Outlook 2021: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/the-living-standards-outlook-2021/

Joseph Rowntree Foundation - UK Poverty 2020/21: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2020-21

A review of 100 studies crushes assumptions about conflict between profit and sustainability: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/01/going-green-is-good-for-business-actually/

World Economic Forum – Global Risks Report 2021: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/global-risks-report-2021/

The Policies of Belonging: https://www.ukonward.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/The-Policies-of-Belonging-1.pdf

Healthy planning & environment

Government consultation - Right to Regenerate: reform of the Right to Contest: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/right-to-regenerate-reform-of-the-right-to-contest “This will provide a quicker and easier route for individuals, businesses and organisations to identify, purchase and redevelop underused or empty land in their area. In turn, the strengthened right will support greater regeneration of brownfield land, boost housing supply and empower people to turn blights and empty spaces in their areas into more beautiful developments.”

RTPI - Green Belts, Geography and Governance: Thinking strategically about the Green Belt: https://www.rtpi.org.uk/blog/2021/january/green-belts-geography-and-governance-thinking-strategically-about-the-green-belt/

Urban planning crucial for better public health in cities: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/urban-planning-crucial-for-better-public-health-in-cities

Forest cover nearly twice the size of the UK has been lost in just one decade: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/forest-cover-nearly-twice-the-size-of-the-uk-has-been-lost-in-just-one-decade/

Housing

Nearly 130,000 children in temporary accommodation during lockdown: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Nearly-130000-children-in-temporary-accommodation-during-lockdown/51675

National Audit Office - Investigation into the housing of rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/the-housing-of-rough-sleepers-during-the-covid19-pandemic/

The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe – here’s how to fix this: https://theconversation.com/the-uk-has-some-of-the-least-energy-efficient-housing-in-europe-heres-how-to-fix-this-151609

Government unveils 'radical' energy efficiency standards for homes and offices: https://www.edie.net/news/11/Government-unveils--radical--energy-efficiency-standards-for-homes-and-offices/

Climate change & sustainability

Summer Arctic sea ice decline during 1850-2017 and the amplified Arctic warming during the recent decades: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abdb5f

Underestimating the Challenges of Avoiding a Ghastly Future: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full

Guest post: Refining the remaining 1.5C ‘carbon budget’: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-refining-the-remaining-1-5c-carbon-budget

2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record, NASA Analysis Shows: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3061/2020-tied-for-warmest-year-on-record-nasa-analysis-shows/

Business secretary admits ‘tension’ between UK’s climate commitments and plans for coal mine: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/cumbria-coal-mine-kwasi-kwarteng-b1789458.html

Biden returns US to Paris climate accord hours after becoming president: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/paris-climate-accord-joe-biden-returns-us

Turn off that camera during virtual meetings, environmental study says: https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2021/Q1/turn-off-that-camera-during-virtual-meetings,-environmental-study-says.html

China's 2020 coal output rises to highest since 2015, undermining climate pledges: https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/chinas-2020-coal-output-rises-to-highest-since-2015-undermining-climate-pledges-2021-01-17

Focus on Carbon Capture and Storage a 'Dangerous Distraction': https://www.desmog.co.uk/2021/01/15/focus-carbon-capture-and-storage-dangerous-distraction

Carbon capture is vital to meeting climate goals, scientists tell green critics: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/16/carbon-capture-vital-meeting-climate-goals-scientists-cut-emissions

Q&A: What does the Brexit deal say about climate change and energy? https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-the-brexit-deal-say-about-climate-change-and-energy

Inquiry launched into role of local authority pension funds in fighting climate change: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Inquiry-launched-into-role-of-local-authority-pension-funds-in-fighting-climate-change/51716

Greener air travel will depend on these emerging technologies: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2021/01/greener-air-travel-will-depend-on-these-emerging-technologies/

Investors flee Big Oil as portfolios get drilled: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/investors-flee-big-oil-as-portfolios-get-drilled/

Climate change: what would 4°C of global warming feel like? https://theconversation.com/climate-change-what-would-4-c-of-global-warming-feel-like-152625

Outdated carbon credits from old wind and solar farms are threatening climate change efforts: https://theconversation.com/outdated-carbon-credits-from-old-wind-and-solar-farms-are-threatening-climate-change-efforts-151456

COP26: Photographer to highlight climate change in exhibition: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-55705195

Driving Down Methane Leaks from the Oil and Gas Industry: https://www.iea.org/reports/driving-down-methane-leaks-from-the-oil-and-gas-industry (need to register for a free account to download)

Australia - Scott Morrison backs coal wealth for decades to come: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-backs-coal-wealth-for-decades-to-come-20210120-p56vnz.html

Active travel & transport

Climate emergency - how do local authorities get people out of their cars? https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/opinion/climate-emergency-how-do-local-authorities-get-people-out-their-cars

Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-statistics-great-britain-2020

Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times produced: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/19/electric-car-batteries-race-ahead-with-five-minute-charging-times

Electric Cars Are Better for the Planet – and Often Your Budget, Too: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/15/climate/electric-car-cost.html

Smart motorways: Hard shoulder removal 'contributed to deaths': http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Smart-motorways-Hard-shoulder-removal-contributed-to-deaths/17083

Air quality & pollution

Government consultation (Wales) - White Paper on a Clean Air (Wales) Bill: https://gov.wales/white-paper-clean-air-wales-bill “We want your views on the White Paper on the Clean Air (Wales) Bill. It presents our proposals before drafting legislation.”

School Streets: Reducing children’s exposure to toxic air pollution and road danger: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/12/half-of-all-uk-schools-could-readily-roll-out-school-streets-report-says/

Air pollution in Scotland met legal limits for the first time ever: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/18/air-pollution-in-scotland-met-legal-limits-for-the-first-time-ever/

Increase in PM2.5 led to thousands of additional deaths in the U.S: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/15/increase-in-pm2-5-led-to-thousands-of-additional-deaths-in-the-u-s/

Air pollution: over three billion people breathe harmful air inside their own homes: https://theconversation.com/air-pollution-over-three-billion-people-breathe-harmful-air-inside-their-own-homes-152986

Pollutionwatch: major sources of air pollution often overlooked: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/pollutionwatch-major-sources-of-air-pollution-often-overlooked

Man saved from deportation after pollution plea in French legal 'first': https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/bangladeshi-man-with-asthma-wins-france-deportation-fight

Air pollution will lead to mass migration, say experts after landmark ruling: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/air-pollution-will-lead-to-mass-migration-say-experts-after-landmark-ruling

Seagrass 'Neptune balls’ sieve millions of plastic particles from water, study finds: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/seagrass-neptune-balls-sieve-millions-of-plastic-particles-from-water-study-finds

From Alaska to Florida, harmful PFAS compounds pollute water at multiple sites in every state: https://ensia.com/features/drinking-water-contamination-pfas-health/

Food & food security

Climate change could have a ‘profound’ negative impact on child malnourishment: https://www.carbonbrief.org/climate-change-could-have-a-profound-negative-impact-on-child-malnourishment

Councils told to provide free school meals during half term: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-told-to-provide-free-school-meals-during-half-term/51696

Free school meal food parcels: these are the nutrients children should be getting: https://theconversation.com/free-school-meal-food-parcels-these-are-the-nutrients-children-should-be-getting-153160

Climate change will shift planet’s rain belt, threatening food security for billions, scientists say: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/rain-belt-food-security-university-california-b1788972.html

Is a vegan diet healthier? Five reasons why we can’t tell for sure: https://theconversation.com/is-a-vegan-diet-healthier-five-reasons-why-we-cant-tell-for-sure-152131

Vertical Farming’s Success Depends on the Cheapest Lightbulb: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-16/can-vertical-farming-really-fight-world-hunger-and-climate-change

And finally….

Memoir, poetry, and climate change in Felicia Luna Lemus' 'Particulate Matter'; https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/memoir-poetry-and-climate-change-in-felicia-luna-lemus-particulate-matter/

WMHPG news, information and resources 15 January 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 Role of SDGs in Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: https://www.orfonline.org/research/role-sdgs-post-pandemic-economic-recovery/

Ten urgent actions government must take to keep people afloat in lockdown: https://www.jrf.org.uk/blog/ten-urgent-actions-government-must-take-keep-people-afloat-lockdown

Healthy planning & environment

Government consultation - The regulation of genetic technologies: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agri-food-chain-directorate/the-regulation-of-genetic-technologies/ “This consultation is about the regulation of genetic technologies. It mainly focuses on the regulation of gene edited (GE) organisms possessing genetic changes which could have been introduced by traditional breeding. This is covered in part 1 of the consultation.” Closes March 17 2021

Human health: Ensuring a high level of protection -  a reference paper on addressing Human Health in Environmental Impact Assessment: https://www.iaia.org/reference-and-guidance-documents/HumanHealthEnsuringProtectionSummary.pdf

Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/2/e2023989118.full

Underestimating the Challenges of Avoiding a Ghastly Future: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full

Governments urged to redirect $1trn of 'planet-wrecking' subsidies to nature conservation and restoration: https://www.edie.net/news/11/Governments-urged-to-redirect--1trn-of--planet-wrecking--subsidies-to-nature-conservation-and-restoration/

Rethinking zero deforestation beyond 2020 to more equitably and effectively conserve tropical forests: https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(20)30597-2?mc_cid=469776d136&mc_eid=9a7f181f0f

Housing

Better housing is crucial for our health and the COVID-19 recovery: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/better-housing-is-crucial-for-our-health-and-the-covid-19-recovery

Report finds data problems in Brownfield Land Registers: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Report-finds-data-problems-in-Brownfield-Land-Registers/51668

Climate change & sustainability

Ashden Awards 2021 - Uncovering and spotlighting the world's next climate champions: https://ashden.org/enter-2021-awards/ “The Ashden Awards boost outstanding climate solutions. For more than 20 years our awards have backed radical ideas delivering lower emissions and a fairer world, with grants and development support on offer to winners and finalists.”

Copernicus: 2020 warmest year on record for Europe; globally, 2020 ties with 2016 for warmest year recorded: https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2020-warmest-year-record-europe-globally-2020-ties-2016-warmest-year-recorded

How close are we to the temperature tipping point of the terrestrial biosphere? https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/3/eaay1052

UKHACC – Carbon Literacy Guide and Quiz: http://www.ukhealthalliance.org/carbon-literacy-guide/ (I managed 14 out of 20 in the quiz – see how you do…)

Analysis: The climate papers most featured in the media in 2020: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-the-climate-papers-most-featured-in-the-media-in-2020

The effect of climate change on indicators of fire danger in the UK: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abd9f2 “The results imply that greater attention needs to be given to wildfire danger in both emergency and spatial planning, and in the development of guidelines for activities that may trigger fires.”

Met Office: A review of the UK’s climate in 2020: https://www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a-review-of-the-uks-climate-in-2020

CO2 levels to breach 50% rise from pre-industrial era in 2021 - Met Office: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-carbon/co2-levels-to-breach-50-rise-from-pre-industrial-era-in-2021-met-office-idUKKBN29D00M

Analysis: Which countries met the UN’s 2020 deadline to raise ‘climate ambition’? https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-which-countries-met-the-uns-2020-deadline-to-raise-climate-ambition

Upward-scaling tipping cascades to meet climate goals: plausible grounds for hope: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14693062.2020.1870097

Natural disasters cause $210 billion in damage in 2020, insurer says: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-munich-re-disaster/natural-disasters-cause-210-billion-in-damage-in-2020-insurer-says-idUKKBN29C17O

Predictions of mass-migration due to climate change are rife, but not necessarily accurate: http://geographical.co.uk/people/the-refugee-crisis/item/3930-are-predictions-of-mass-climate-migrations-really-accurate

Tried and tested solutions for 2021: https://www.cat.org.uk/tried-and-tested-solutions-for-2021/

Britain sees greenest year for electricity in 2020 – National Grid: https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-electricity/britain-sees-greenest-year-for-electricity-in-2020-national-grid-idUSL8N2JM3CC

Alok Sharma to work full-time on Cop26 climate conference preparation: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/08/alok-sharma-work-full-time-cop26-climate-conference-preparation

Peat bogs: restoring them could slow climate change – and revive a forgotten world: https://theconversation.com/peat-bogs-restoring-them-could-slow-climate-change-and-revive-a-forgotten-world-139182

Carbon capture technology will not solve the climate crisis, report says: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/carbon-capture-technology-will-not-solve-the-climate-crisis-report-says/

Oil companies show little interest in Arctic oil rights: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/oil-companies-show-little-interest-in-arctic-oil-rights/

Trump’s EPA launches surprise attack on Biden’s climate rules: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/12/trump-epa-biden-climate-rules-458280

How mapping the weather 12,000 years ago can help predict future climate change: https://theconversation.com/how-mapping-the-weather-12-000-years-ago-can-help-predict-future-climate-change-152852

Activating ‘tipping points’ in society could push world towards greater climate action, researchers say: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/tipping-points-society-climate-change-b1785171.html

Climate Deniers Shift Tactics to ‘Inactivism’: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-deniers-shift-tactics-to-inactivism/

Solar panels capture more sunlight with capsaicin - the chemical that makes chili peppers spicy: https://theconversation.com/solar-panels-capture-more-sunlight-with-capsaicin-the-chemical-that-makes-chili-peppers-spicy-152901

Active travel & transport

The number of patients hospitalized with bicycle injuries is increasing - A cry for better road safety: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457520316560?s=09

EV emissions depend on the time of day that you charge them: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/01/ev-emissions-depend-on-when-you-charge/

‘Pay as you go’ car use could save thousands of tonnes of CO2: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/increasing-car-club-membership-could-save-thousands-of-tonnes-of-co2/

Air quality & pollution

Air pollution is associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/11/air-pollution-is-associated-with-increased-risk-of-pregnancy-loss/

First lockdown’s effect on air pollution was overstated, our study reveals: https://theconversation.com/first-lockdowns-effect-on-air-pollution-was-overstated-our-study-reveals-153152

Clean air: Coal burning ban and wet wood restrictions planned: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55636395

They’re everywhere: New study finds polyester fibres throughout the Arctic Ocean: https://theconversation.com/theyre-everywhere-new-study-finds-polyester-fibres-throughout-the-arctic-ocean-152881

'Loophole' will let UK continue to ship plastic waste to poorer countries: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/12/loophole-will-let-uk-continue-to-ship-plastic-waste-to-poorer-countries

Biodegradable plastics will not solve the plastic problem: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/biodegradable-plastics-will-not-solve-the-plastic-problem/

Accelerating to a Better Future - A podcast on food packaging and waste: https://shows.acast.com/accelerating-to-a-better-future/episodes/out-of-the-cardboard-box?mc_cid=469776d136&mc_eid=9a7f181f0f

Food & food security

The biggest food news story over the past week has been the free school meals provided to children;

Other news has covered the developing situation around post-brexit food supplies and infrastructure;

the most sustainable way to feed the future: https://www.airprotein.com/about

Industry self-regulation fails to deliver healthier diets, again: https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4762

Danish government tells citizens to eat a climate friendly diet of pulses, fruit and vegetables: https://inews.co.uk/news/danish-government-tells-citizens-eat-climate-friendly-diet-vegetables-pulses-822888

Global food demand is leading to vast biodiversity loss: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/global-food-demand-is-leading-to-vast-biodiveristy-loss/

A drastic revolution in the way we eat and farm could limit habitat lost to agriculture to a mere 1%: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/01/if-we-drastically-revolutionize-the-way-we-eat-and-farm-habitat-lost-to-agriculture-would-drop-to-a-mere-1/

WMHPG news, information and resources 08 January 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

Councils’ core funding per resident set to drop below 2015-16 levels: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Councils-core-funding-per-resident-set-to-drop-below-2015-16-levels/51610

The IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities: a New Year’s message: https://www.ifs.org.uk/inequality/the-ifs-deaton-review-of-inequalities-a-new-years-message/  - media coverage: IFS calls for a fairer UK after Covid brings greater inequality: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/05/ifs-calls-for-a-fairer-uk-after-covid-brings-greater-inequality

Healthy planning & environment

Study ties amphibian collapses with increased malaria outbreaks: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/12/amphibian-die-offs-can-cause-human-health-problems/

Supreme Court rules Heathrow expansion lawful: https://environmentjournal.online/articles/supreme-court-rules-heathrow-expansion-lawful/

Two-way street: how Barcelona is democratising public space: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/two-way-street-how-barcelona-is-democratising-public-space

The best environmental journalism of 2020: https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/12/18/best-environmental-journalism-2020/

Global food industry on course to drive rapid habitat loss – research: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/21/global-food-industry-to-drive-rapid-habitat-loss-research

Unearthed today: What are supermarkets doing to stop deforestation? https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/12/17/unearthed-today-what-are-supermarkets-doing-to-stop-deforestation/

A new London Plan by Christmas? …Stop the cavalry! https://lichfields.uk/blog/2020/december/22/a-new-london-plan-by-christmas-stop-the-cavalry/

Housing

Jenrick announces revised plan for housing algorithum: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Jenrick-announces-revised-plan-for-housing-algorithum/51583

Council ensures homeless people are offered COVID-19 vaccine: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Council-ensures-homeless-people-are-offered-COVID-19-vaccine/51641

Climate change & sustainability

The top green resolutions to make for 2021: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/211755/the-green-resolutions-make-2021/

10 energy and climate issues to watch in 2021: https://www.axios.com/10-energy-and-climate-issues-2021-2481eee1-c823-4114-82ea-f00fd23d77ff.html

21 New Year's resolutions for sustainability professionals in 2021 and beyond: https://www.edie.net/news/7/21-New-Year-s-resolutions-for-sustainability-professionals-in-2021-and-beyond/

Echo Chamber Effects in the Climate Change Blogosphere: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17524032.2020.1861048 “Consistent with expectations, findings reveal that audience members (N = 760) with high risk perceptions primarily consume climate mainstream blogs and audience members with low risk perceptions primarily consume climate sceptical blogs. Implications for research and practice are discussed.”

Climate warming prolongs the time interval between leaf‐out and flowering in temperate trees: Effects of chilling, forcing and photoperiod: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.13558 “This study provides the large‐scale empirical evidence of prolonged time interval between leaf‐out and flowering with climate warming. The unequal advances of the two events may alter the partition of resources between vegetative growth and reproduction and cause different changes of spring frost damage to vegetative and reproductive tissues, which may alter species fitness and further affect ecosystem structure and function.”

In-depth Q&A: How does the UK’s ‘energy white paper’ aim to tackle climate change? https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-does-the-uks-energy-white-paper-aim-to-tackle-climate-change

Jenrick criticised over decision not to block new Cumbria coal mine: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/06/jenrick-criticised-over-decision-not-block-new-cumbria-coal-mine

Analysis: Why the new Met Office temperature record shows faster warming since 1970s: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-why-the-new-met-office-temperature-record-shows-faster-warming-since-1970s

Democrats win control of US Senate, boosting prospect of climate action: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/01/06/democrats-set-win-control-us-senate-boosting-prospect-climate-action/

The cost of debt of renewable and non-renewable energy firms: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00745-x

Met Office - 2020 - a remarkable year: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2021/2020-statistics-round-up

Grantham Institute – Outlook Magazine - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/about-us/outlook-magazine/

Webinar 14 January - What does NHS England's Net-Zero Plan Mean for Clinical Practice? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-does-nhs-englands-net-zero-plan-mean-for-clinical-practice-registration-133249562027

Treasury: Net zero transition 'essential for long term prosperity': https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4025152/treasury-net-zero-transition-essential-long-term-prosperity

UK summer temperatures look set to increase by far more than the global average: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/uk-summer-temperatures-increase-more-global-average-818125

'How much will it cost to slow climate change?' https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/12/ask-sara-how-much-will-it-cost-to-slow-climate-change/

Climate crisis will cause falling humidity in global cities – study: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/04/climate-crisis-will-cause-falling-humidity-in-global-cities-study

Global climate action needs trusted finance data: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03646-x

Guest post: How to ‘fairly’ share emissions from goods traded around the world: https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-to-fairly-share-emissions-from-goods-traded-around-the-world

Brexit deal threatens UK labour and climate standards, thinktank warns: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/dec/27/brexit-deal-threatens-uk-labour-climate-standards-thinktank-warns

Windfarms in Great Britain break record for clean power generation: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/19/windfarms-in-great-britain-break-record-for-clear-power-generation

No coal in the nation’s stocking: Britain sees first coal-free Christmas Day: https://www.current-news.co.uk/news/no-coal-in-the-nations-stocking-britain-sees-first-coal-free-christmas-day

Keeping up with fast pace of attribution science: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/12/keeping-up-with-fast-pace-of-attribution-science/

A new carbon capture method that actually makes energy sense: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/12/a-new-improved-carbon-capture-method-that-makes-energy-sense/

Norway supreme court verdict opens Arctic to more oil drilling: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-norway-oil-environment/greenpeace-loses-norway-supreme-court-case-over-arctic-oil-idUKKBN28W104

The Weekly Planet: The 5 Biggest Climate Stories of 2020: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/12/5-biggest-climate-stories-2020/617468/

Exclusive: GM, Ford knew about climate change 50 years ago: https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063717035?s=09

Four ways microbial fuel cells might revolutionise electricity production in the future: https://theconversation.com/four-ways-microbial-fuel-cells-might-revolutionise-electricity-production-in-the-future-152184

Outdoor heaters are very inefficient – here’s how to keep warm outdoors more sustainably: https://theconversation.com/outdoor-heaters-are-very-inefficient-heres-how-to-keep-warm-outdoors-more-sustainably-149423

Active travel & transport

Would you ditch your car if public transport was free? Here’s what researchers have found: https://theconversation.com/would-you-ditch-your-car-if-public-transport-was-free-heres-what-researchers-have-found-133001

Removed London bike lane blocked by parked cars most of the time – study: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/01/removed-london-bike-lane-blocked-by-parked-cars-most-of-the-time-study-kensington-and-chelsea-council

Cars: transition from lockdown is a fork in the road – here are two possible outcomes for future travel: https://theconversation.com/cars-transition-from-lockdown-is-a-fork-in-the-road-here-are-two-possible-outcomes-for-future-travel-139885

UK public transport downturn to continue after pandemic ends: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/dec/30/uk-public-transport-downturn-to-continue-after-pandemic-ends

UK electric vehicle market enjoys 'best ever year' in 2020: https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4025422/uk-electric-vehicle-market-enjoys-best-2020

Air quality & pollution

Indoor Air Pollution from Residential Stoves: Examining the Flooding of Particulate Matter into Homes during Real-World Use: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/12/1326 “Taken together, the study demonstrates that people inside homes with a residential stove are at risk of exposure to high intensities of PM2.5 and PM1 within a short period of time through normal use. It is recommended that this risk be reflected in the testing and regulation of residential stoves”

Effects of short-term exposures to ultrafine particles near an airport in healthy subjects: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201934797X?via%3Dihub

Air pollution caused death of 9-year-old, coroner rules: https://airqualitynews.com/2020/12/16/air-pollution-caused-death-of-9-year-old-coroner-rules/

Air pollution death ruling: What comes next? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55352247

Highways England to investigate link between road water and microplastics: https://airqualitynews.com/2021/01/04/highways-england-to-investigate-link-between-road-water-and-microplastics/

Microplastics revealed in the placentas of unborn babies: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/22/microplastics-revealed-in-placentas-unborn-babies

Rethinking the science of plastic recycling: UK startup lands £1.2M for turning trash into treasure using AI & robotics: https://www.uktech.news/news/uk-startup-lands-12m-for-turning-trash-into-treasure-using-ai-robotics-20201215

Food & food security

#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY: https://endchildfoodpoverty.org/

How much would food cost if we factored in planetary impacts? https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/12/how-much-would-food-cost-if-we-factored-in-planetary-impacts/

Food shortages, Brexit and COVID-19: how Britain's problems converged at Christmas: https://theconversation.com/amp/food-shortages-brexit-and-covid-19-how-britains-problems-converged-at-christmas-152412

More CO2 in the atmosphere hurts key plants and crops more than it helps: https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/12/more-co2-in-the-atmosphere-hurts-key-plants-and-crops-more-than-it-helps/

And finally….

In pictures: Jonk wins Earth Photo competition with stunning series of abandoned buildings: http://geographical.co.uk/nature/geophoto/item/3927-earth-photo?awt_a=8l6Q&awt_l=D_aJ8&awt_m=3kK5PrsQzsPJO6Q

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