Healthy Planet UK

A student-run group within Medsin UK focused on the impacts of climate change on health and sustainable healthcare

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Check out the new Healthy Planet UK site!

Posted by izzybraithwaite ⋅ September 9, 2012

We’re now switching over to http://www.healthyplanetuk.org – our new site is more of a website than a blog, but this one will stick around as there are some great blogs and videos on here from Copenhagen, Durban etc. Lots of them are also linked too from the new site. Our facebook page is where we … Continue reading »

Featured Posts

Durban UN climate talks – in pictures

Posted by Jonny Meldrum ⋅ January 2, 2012 ⋅ 1 Comment

The UN climate talks were an exhausting, turbulent and yet thrilling time. Reading the lack of coverage in the British press – on the occasions we tried to find out what was happening in the outside world – was always a shock to the complete immersion we experienced in Durban. Everything centred around the negotiations. … Continue reading »

Working to a deadline… the last 24 hours of COP17

Posted by mayatp ⋅ December 9, 2011 ⋅ Leave a Comment

I’m not sure about you, but I am definitely the type of person who will only really get down to a piece of work once a deadline is looming. Whilst this is a frequent cause of frustration amongst my friends and tutors, being in Durban has shown me that apparently this style of working is … Continue reading »

‘Ode to Kyoto – Save the Protocol’ a love song by Medsin-UK

Posted by Jonny Meldrum ⋅ December 8, 2011 ⋅ Leave a Comment

We love the Kyoto Protocol. It’s the only legally binding climate treaty we have and – although it’s not perfect – it’s an essential bridge to a fully comprehensive and legally binding deal. And we though what better way to express this love than through the medium of song writing…

Health professionals at UN climate talks

Posted by Jonny Meldrum ⋅ November 26, 2011 ⋅ Leave a Comment

As a medical student with the incredible opportunity to represent the voice of health at the UN climate talks, the day before my departure I was confronted with the following headline on the front-page of the Guardian: ‘Rich nations ‘give up’ on new climate treaty until 2020’ You might expect this would be demoralising. I’m … Continue reading »

The effects of climate change on health are potentially catastrophic. The Lancet describes climate change as the biggest threat to health in the 21st century.

And we - as a student organisation of future doctors educating, advocating and acting on climate change - agree. We work with other health professionals, including the Climate and Health Council to build the message of climate=health.

Many healthier ways of living are also good for the planet. Avoiding excess and unnecessary energy-use is hand in hand with living a more active life style and low-carbon policies have many immediate health co-benefits. Driving less will reduce road traffic accidents, eating less red meat will reduce certain cancers, exercising and walking more will reduce obesity, and reducing carbon emissions will mean that the air is less polluted, reducing respiratory problems and disease.

We are sending a delegation of 5 medical students to the UN climate change negotiations, this year held in Durban, South Africa. Navigate the menu above to meet our delegation and hear what we're getting up to.