Transforming the climate change narrative into one of optimism, opportunity and relatability
Looking at the pictures from last week’s 44th World Environment Day, it is easy to feel depressed about the state of our planet. The theme of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ provided a never-ending stream of distressing photos of horrors such as turtles having straws pulled out their noses and whales chewing on plastic buckets. Endless statistics about what a terrible state the environment is in are never far away, and while the Day saw many pledges made on banning single-use plastics, not enough action is being taken.
Looked at as an isolated issue, our environmental problems can feel overwhelming and unsurmountable — that we have passed the point of no return. A sense of helplessness often comes with this feeling, the hunch that, at best, we could lessen the damage only slightly, but most likely we are falling head first into a bleak future.
This notion overlooks the holistic nature of the environment, its inherent link to our economies, our communities and our individual livelihoods. Action to improve the environment does not simply improve nature; rather, it provides us with the chance to imagine a better society. It allows us to dream about a world in which we are healthier and happier, which can be realised if we begin interacting with the environment in a more sustainable manner.
At the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, we are working to shift the doom and gloom narrative around climate change into one of opportunity and optimism. Action on climate change is action on health, and so by mitigating environmental degradation we have the chance to improve our health above and beyond simply protecting it from pollution and the impacts of climate change.
Take air pollution in the UK. Currently, 40,000 early deaths a year are attributable to poor air, as well as over 6 million sick days, and there are over 20,000 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Overall, air pollution related illnesses costs society £435 million a week, which could pay for a fifth of the NHS in England over the course of a year.
Measures to reduce air pollution are, by definition, measures to mitigate other environmental impacts, particularly climate change, and improve health in general. Promotion of electric vehicles lowers exhaust pollution, investment in cycling limits car use, and leading more active lives reduces obesity. Even if there was no air pollution problem, the actions we have to take to improve air quality will make us healthier anyway.
To engage people in the environmental debate with the urgency necessary, we need a language of optimism, opportunity and relatability. It’s at the intersection of health and climate change that we believe this is most possible. By highlighting the health opportunities that come from climate change action, stopping environmental degradation need not be a burden. A narrative on health and climate change that resonates with people’s lived experience can radically alter how climate change is perceived in the public’s mind, transforming it from a barrier to a bridge to a more prosperous world.
Antonia Jennings, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. Twitter: @tweetingantonia
