Three separate images from the recent 17th conference of the parties (COP 17) in Durban, where I was as an observer on behalf of the climate and health council, frame […]
Climate change
David Pencheon: Sustainability by stealth – 8 steps to heaven
When I used to teach public health to medical students and other health professionals, I tried to set myself the challenge of helping people learn about populations, prevention, screening, social […]
Maya Tickell-Painter: Where is health being included in the UN climate change negotiations?
Recently, you heard from Johnny Meldrum about why health professionals should care about climate change, and their role in the climate change negotiations. More than ever before, health professionals were […]
Richard Smith: The happiness questionnaire
My son, a chef, is part of a “pop up think tank” of people under 35 working on happiness. They are gathering evidence through a questionnaire, and I thought that […]
Johnny Meldrum: The role of health professionals in UN climate change negotiations
As a medical student with the incredible opportunity to represent the voice of health at the UN climate talks in Durban (COP17), the day before my departure I was confronted […]
David Pencheon: What is it about large scale change that makes anaesthetists act?
Change may be the new constant, but it is always important to understand who embraces change most readily, and where. Doctors in general are traditionally conservative, as those outside the […]
Tracey Koehlmoos: Climate change, health, and security
On 17 October, I was fortunate to attend a daylong seminar at BMA House on “the health and security perspectives of climate change.” Uniquely, this programme pulled together medical and […]
David Pencheon: Good general practice is sustainable general practice and vice versa
Once again the RCGP’s Annual conference last week in Liverpool produced a wealth of stimulating and topical debates – from the ethics of whether doctors should take a lead in […]
Richard Smith: Climate change, torturers, Nero, and me
“We know what we need to do to avoid severe climate change. We know how to get it done. We have the technology, and we can afford it. But we […]
David Pencheon: Climate change and health – let’s get professional
I am still proud to be a doctor. This used to be because I looked up to inspirational mentors, tutors, and role models. I still do, although my inspiration is […]