NHS Lothian webinar for staff – A Just Transition and Health Inequalities: a fairer and greener Scotland
On Thursday 27 May 2021 Esther Roberton, Chair of the Board for NHS Lothian hosted a webinar to raise awareness about the Just Transition Commission report, health inequalities and the climate emergency. The key message of the webinar was:
Health and sustainability go hand in hand. Whatever role you play in the NHS your decisions affects this organisation’s overall impact on climate change and the health of our population.
Over 50 people joined the webinar to hear from Esther as well as the two key speakers; Professor Mike Danson, Professor Emeritus Enterprise Policy, Heriot-Watt University and member of the Just Transition Commission and Dr Margaret Douglas, Consultant in Public Health and Co-Director of Edinburgh University Master of Public Health Programme.
Mike started off by explaining what the challenge is and what is meant by the Just Transition. He explained:
“The imperative of a just transition is that Governments design policies in a way that ensures the benefits of climate change action are shared widely, while the cost do not unfairly burden those least able to pay, or whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly put at risk as the economy shifts and changes.”
Margaret went on to talk about how climate change affects health around the world. This can be a result of storms, flooding, and heat stress. These factors can cause food and water shortages, migration trauma, new health and service needs and social disruption. All of which can put a massive strain on health boards. She also set out the potential health impacts and opportunities which are covered as part of the Just Transition recommendations on warmer homes and transport.
Esther Roberton, Chair of the Board for NHS Lothian, said:
“As a health board we not only need to do our part in tackling climate change, but this must be in connection with the work we do to address poverty and inequality across Lothian. This needs to be a long-term measure to help look after the health and wellbeing of those in our communities and around the world.”
Slides are available here:
