Cameron letter

Page 1

C/o Professor Arulkumaran Sabaratnam, The British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square London WC1H 9JP The Hon. David Cameron 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA

Dear Sir,

As current, future and retired healthcare and public health professionals and academics, we are gravely concerned about the health impacts of the UK’s continuing fossil fuel dependence. Burning fossil fuels emits particulate matter and other pollutants which harm health directly, along with greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change and harm health indirectly. We welcome your recent comments on the need for climate action following Typhoon Haiyan, and call on you to reaffirm your commitment to science-based emissions reductions as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change. We also ask that you play a stronger leadership role in EU and international negotiations, and to speak out on the recent unjustifiable changes of direction by countries such as Australia and Canada. Air pollution shortens lives (cutting 6 months from the average UK citizen’s life expectancy), worsens respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, impairs children’s development, and is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Its human and economic costs are largely avoidable with sustainable energy and transport policy. Climate change is an even greater threat to health - for all nations. The latest assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes clear the need for rapid emissions reductions to avoid temperature rises far above the internationally-recognised 2°C limit - beyond which the risk of irreversible changes increases significantly. With the international climate summit in Warsaw having just drawn to a close, it is clear that progress in international negotiations would be greatly undermined by a weakening of the UK's climate ambition, with potentially severe repercussions. The health effects of climate change are direct - eg. heatwaves, flooding and changes in infection risk - and indirect, such as drought, food insecurity, large-scale migration and conflict. Action now will save lives and reduce economic damage. Air pollution costs £6-19 billion annually in the UK, through healthcare costs and reduced productivity. Other low-carbon policies including investment in active travel infrastructure and housing insulation for the most vulnerable can bring huge health and economic benefits. The greatest health and economic burden from both air pollution and climate change falls on the poorest, and exacerbates existing health inequalities.


Maintaining the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels threatens our climate, our security and our health. Governmental support for the expansion of fossil fuels, as evidenced by the creation of the dedicated 'Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil’ and recent lobbying against the EU Fuel Quality Directive, exacerbate this threat. We are not alone in raising the alarm: our voices join those of the World Health Organisation, the International Council of Nurses and numerous national Medical Associations. Neither are we alone in highlighting the synergies between sustainable development and public health policy, and the potential cost savings. We urgently need our 'Greenest Government Ever' to commit to making this a reality, and we are also writing to the editor of the Times to express these concerns. We call on you to demonstrate visionary leadership and reduce the UK‘s fossil fuel dependence, in order to reap the many benefits of healthy and sustainable communities. Inevitably this will involve challenging the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry. With courageous political leadership, the UK can bring about lasting, positive social change, helping to galvanise international cooperation underlined by ambitious domestic action. This government can still provide that leadership.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Arul Sabaratnam, Andrea Spyropoulos, Dr. Peter Carter, OBE, Dr. Tim Ballard,

President, British Medical Association President, Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive and General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing Vice Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners

Dr Jean-Pascal van Besouw, Professor John R. Ashton CBE, Professor Frank Kee, Helen Gordon, Dr. Sue Atkinson, Dr. Robin Stott, Professor Martin McKee,

President of The Royal College of Anaesthetists President of the Faculty of Public Health Director UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health CEO, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Co-Chair, Climate and Health Council Co-Chair, Climate and Health Council Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Former NHS Chief Executive Deputy Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Associate Professor of Healthy Urban Environments, UWE Director, UCL Institute of Human Health and Performance Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University College London Senior clinical lecturer, Queen Mary University, London, and Chair, MedAct Professor of Primary Health Care, Queen Mary University of London Professor of Health Services Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Jenny Griffiths OBE, Mr. Marcus Grant, Professor Hugh Montgomery, Prof John S. Yudkin Dr. David McCoy, Professor Trish Greenhalgh, Professor Nick Black,


Josko Mise, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore

President, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) Honorary Professor in Clinical Science, University of Liverpool

Walter W Holland, CBE

Emeritus Professor of Public Health Medicine

Professor Robert Sneyd

Dean and Professor of Anaesthesia, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry

Prof Imti Choonara, Professor Anna Gilmore, Dr. Richard Smith, Professor Ian Watt, Dr. Catherine Brogan, Rachel Stancliffe, Genon K. Jensen Anja Leetz, Professor Ian Watt, Prof. Mark Dooris, Dr. Clare Shortall,

Emeritus Professor in Child Health Professor of Public Health Chair, Patients Know Best Professor of Primary and Community Care Chief Executive and Director, Public Health Action Support Team Director, The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, Oxford Executive Director, Health and Environment Alliance Executive Director, Health Care Without Harm Europe Professor Primary and Community Care Professor in Health and Sustainability Vice-President Alma Mata Global Health Network and Paediatrics Trainee at Northwick Park Hospital Head of Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Professor of Occupational Therapy Honorary Professor of Public Health, Kings College London Professor of Primary Health Care Professor of Psychiatry Deputy Director, Severn School of Primary Care Director, Medsin and Medical Student, Barts’ and the London National Coordinator, Healthy Planet UK and Medical Student, UCL BMA Medical Students' Committee Co-Chair BMA Medical Students' Committee Co-Chair GP and Author, Sustainable Healthcare Paediatrician and EC member of International Society for Social Paediatrics Head of Knowledge & Intelligence, Public Health Retired Regional Director of Public Health Director of Public Health in the West Midlands Professor of Respiratory Medicine Professor of Stroke Medicine (retired) Professor of Health Service Research Professor of Medical Psychology in Public Health Professor of Public Health Consultant in Health Protection Professor of primary health care, University of Bristol

Dr. Phil Edwards, Professor Moses N. Ikiugu Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, Professor Debbie Sharp, Professor Paul Fletcher Dr. Paul G. N. Main, Cameron Stocks, Isobel Braithwaite, Harrison Carter, Andrew Wilson, Dr. Knut Schroeder Dr. Tony Waterston, Dr. Peter Lobmayer, Dr. Mike Gill, Dr. John Middleton, Professor Ashley Woodcock, Dr. David Barer, Professor Janet Richardson, Professor Richard Fielding, Professor Woody Caan, Dr. Sarah Anderson, Professor Gene Feder,


Mr Mike Rowson Dr. Stephen Gillam, Professor Martin J. Pippard, Annie Mitchell, William Beale, Dr. Mike Gent, Dr. Caroline Jessel, Dr. Diana Brighouse Dr. Eugenia Cronin, Nick Watts, Katy Cooper, Stephen Woods , Dr. Jay Ginn, Philip Thomas, Dr. Kenneth Boddy, Dr. Joyce Leeson, Stefi Barna, Dr. Ann Wylie, Dr. Nick Francis, Dr. Taavi Tillmann, Dr. Sarah Walpole, Dr. Andy Connor, Alastair Tomlinson, Dr. Tim Crocker-Buque, Dr. Peter Poore, Dr. Matthew Lumley, Dr. Christopher Millett, Dr. Derek Chase, Amy Carson, Alistair Wardrope, Dr. Deon Louw, Gabriele Messori, Dr. Daniel Campion, Dr. Frank Swinton, Shara Paulo, Andrew Simmonds, Dr. Eleanor Hothersall,

Senior teaching fellow, UCL Institute of Child Health and Development Public Health Teaching Director and General Practitioner Emeritus Professor of Haematology Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist Director of the National Kidney Federation and Member of the AllParty Parliamentary Kidney Group Consultant in Communicable Disease Control Clinical Strategy Lead NHS England Kent and Medway Retired consultant in chronic pain Consultant in Public Health Head of Project, UCL-Lancet Commission: Policy Responses to Climate Change Senior Project Manager, C3 Collaborating for Health UK Healthy Cities Network Co-ordinator Visiting Professor Honorary Visiting Professor, University of Bradford Retired Senior Lecturer, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Edinburgh University Retired Director of Public Health, Manchester Lecturer, Global Public Health, UEA Senior Teaching Fellow, Kings’ College London Senior Clinical Research Fellow Public Health Specialist Core Medical Trainee Consultant Physician & Nephrologist Senior Lecturer in Environmental & Public Health, Cardiff Metropolitan University Specialist Registrar, Public Health Medicine International health adviser Consultant Haematologist Reader in Public Health General Practitioner King's College Health Centre London Medical Student Medical Student & coordinator, Healthy Planet Sheffield Specialty Doctor, Emergency Medicine Ph.D. Student Occupational physician Consultant Anaesthetist General Practitioner Manager CEO, AECB Consultant in Public Health and Undergraduate Teaching Lead for Public Health


Lindis Percy, Dr. Nicola Harker, Martin White Lesley Thomas Dr. Martin Farebrother, Julie Hotchkiss, Dr. Frank Boulton, Alicia Pawluk, Dr. Emma Davies, Mr Andreas Nicolaides, Roshni Patel, Katy Harker, Nisreen Khambati, Dr. Cathy Read, Dr. Helena Korjonen, Rachael Wars, Dr. Catherine Stace, Shira Rub, Amanda Rolfes, Dr. Sarah Donovan, Dr. Chiew Kong, Matthew Spriggs, Jonathan Miller, Robert Irving, Margaret Graham, Dr. Hannah Roberts, Claudel P-Desrosiers, Christine Chow, Eva Simpson-Lees, Florence Mutlow, John Caffekey, Julie Edwards, Dr. Stuart Galey, Dr. Nicola Padel, Dr. Tom Heath, Ruth Laurence-King, Elena Gonzalez Rojo, Emily Collins, Lindsey Wu, Dr. Elizabeth Murphy, Aijing Wang,

Former nurse, midwife and health visitor General Practitioner (Trainer and Macmillan General Practitioner) Advanced Public Health Practitioner Public Health Programme Manager Retired Consultant Physician (Respiratory Medicine) Consultant in Public Health Retired NHS Consultant haematologist; Board Member, Medact Medical Student and Healthy Planet COP19 delegate Consultant in Emergency Medicine Consultant Head & Neck Surgeon Medical student and Healthy Planet UCL committee member Registrar in Public Health Medical student Public Health Consultant Director Research & Information Services Medical Student Doctor Clinical Psychologist Occupational Therapy Student Research Services Manager Clinical Scientist (retired) Medical Student Medical Student Research Associate, Oxford Brookes University Mental Health Nurse Doctor President of International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA)-Quebec and IFMSA Think Global Coordinator Public Health Researcher NHS Junior Business Associate Student Medical Student General Practitioner Recruitment and Selection Manager Occupational Physician Doctor (psychiatrist) General Practitioner Trainee Medical Student and Healthy Planet UCL Co-president Sociologist and Public Health expert Student & Healthy Planet UK committee member Health Policy Analyst General Practitioner Student


Hannah Warren , Dan Hurlbut, Katie Burnham, Philip Hefford, Holly McFadden, Benny Goodman, Dr. Cathy Read, Layth Hanbali, Jonny Elliott, Sreenath Subrahmanyam, S. Ahmed, Cam Field, Dr. John Leah, Dr. Pardoe, Dr. Helen Aspland, Dr. F Kiernan, Jo Lewitt, Dr. Robbie Hitchcock, Dr. Eleanor Cooke, Dr. Erica Pool, Lindley Owen, Dr. John G Hughes, Ian Campbell, Dr. Maggie Eisner, Dr. Richard Kaye, Dr. Sajeda Youssouf, Eleanor Denny, Dr. Pam Wortley, Dr. Lesley Morrison, Lordson Simpson, De Rebecca Redwood, Anna Watkinson-Powell, John Somner, Ezme Cohen, Dr. Will Regan, Dr. Julia Wallond, Shuo Zhang, Lola Fakoya-Sales, Dr. Asim K. Dasgupta, Dr. Jayaindra Fernando, Dr. Peter Hanrath,

Medical Student Student Nurse PhD Student in Clinical Medicine Physiologist Nurse Lecturer Public Health Consultant Medical student and branch president, UCL Medsin Public Health researcher Lecturer in Climate Change Medical Student Psychotherapist Senior Lecturer, University of Worcester General Practitioner Clinical psychologist Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia Public Health development and Commissioning Manager General Practitioner Foundation Year 2 doctor Junior doctor and MSc Public Health student Retired Public Health consultant General Practitioner Medical Statistician Retired GP and Training Programme Director, Bradford Specialist Training Scheme for General Practice Consultant anaesthetist, NHS Clinical Research Fellow Medical student Retired General Practitioner General Practitioner Senior occupational therapist General Practitioner Medical Student Clinical Research Fellow Medical Student Paediatric Specialist Trainee General Practitioner in Bristol Medical Student Medical Student Retired Occupational Health consultant General Surgeon General Practitioner


Jacqui Footman , Dr. James Chan, Dr. Sally Aston, Phoebe Pallotti, Dr. Rosemary Croft, Julia Richmond, David Haines, Sara Richert, Dr. Edward Evershed, Dr. Hugh Thomas, Dr. Daniel Maughan, Dr. Chris Edwards, Dr. Jilla Burgess-Allen, Samson Williams, Adri Hartveld, Dr. Graham McAll, Jason Mitchell, Michael Tonkins, Dr. Trevor Thompson, Barry Ewart, Dr. Natasha Robinson, Dr. Guy Johnson, Dr. Anna Jones, Ruth Bishop, Dr. S Renkema, Gill Wyatt, Dr. Merav Kliner, Dr. Mark Thompson, Graeme Laws, Dr. Elizabeth Densham, Dr. Sue Richards, Susan Francis, Louisa Perry, Dr. Sabine Pahl, Marwan Mansour, Alexis Keech, Sharon Jenner, Professor Anthony J Hedley Dr. S Wheatly, Kristin Goffe, Christie Noble, Caroline Hook,

Complementary Health Practitioner Paediatrics trainee General practitioner Registered Midwife General Practitioner Parent and infant specialist Senior lecturer in occupational therapy Environmental controller Retired General Practitioner Doctor and Clinical Teaching Fellow Doctor (psychiatrist) Paediatric Respiratory Registrar Public Health Specialty Registrar Medical Student Senior Physiotherapist General Medical Practitioner Environmental Manager - Leeds & York Partnership NHS FT Medical student Reader in Healthcare Education Community Education Development Officer Associate Medical Director for Governance General Practitioner, Sighthill Health Centre, Edinburgh Teaching fellow in Medical Education and Public Health Doctor. Occupational Therapist General Practitioner Facilitator and Psychotherapist Public Health Registrar, North West Deanery General Practitioner Technical Director General Practitioner Medical statistician Programme Director, Architects for Health Medical student Reader in Psychology Medical Student Environmental and Sustainability Manager Renal nurse specialist Consultant in Preventive Medicine and Public Health Consultant anaesthetist Medical student Medical student Medical student


Dr. Ephrem Bogues, Dr. Victoria Hurth, Dr. Carwyn Watkins, Nathan Cantley, Carolien Pronk, Dr. Catriona Chalmers, Dr. Jenny Walker, Ian Buckle, Dr. Kate Sparks, Dr. Peter Harbord, Dr. Ashritha Roy, Dr. Annabel Smart, Arminel Lovell, Dr. Ian Baker, Dr. Rachel Mearkle, Mrs Joanna Goodier, Francisco d'Orey, Kirsty Hewitt, Guy Mollett, Dr. Bill van Marle, Chantal Edge, Dr. Ian Wrench, Jonathan Broad, Dr. Larch Maxey, Rebekah Morris , Professor Brian Harrison, Dr. Juliet Boyd, Dr. Heather Pyne, Dr. Rachel Hadden, John Boyd, Oliver Golledge, Dr. G S Mead, Dr. John Hyde, Felicity McElderry, Katherine Deans, Dr. Richard Lawson, Dr. Elizabeth Waterston, David Harrap MPhil, Jonathan Meldrum, Dr. Euan McPhee, Helga Rhein, Alisha Patel,

Retired Medical Practitioner University Programme Manager Foundation Year 1 Doctor Medical Student Research Advisor Consultant anaesthetist Foundation Year 2 Doctor NHS Trust Sustainability Manager Health Psychologist General Practitioner Speciality doctor General Practitioner Student Retired Public Health Physician Specialist Registrar in Public Health Registered Nurse Medical Student Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medical Student Retired General Practitioner Public health registrar Consultant Anaesthetist Final year medical student Post Doctoral Research Fellow Medical Student Retired Consultant Physician Retired Consultant Anaesthetist General Practitioner General Practitioner trainee Retired Consultant Contracts Manager Retired General Practitioner Retired Consultant Paediatrician Occupational Therapist Trainee Clinical psychologist Retired GO/Psychiatrist General Practitioner (retired) Doctoral Student Medical student Lecturer (retired) General Practitioner Medical Student


Ms Lucyna Czwartos, Olivia Fakoussa, Leonard Iggulden, Dr. Elly Pilavachi, Tim Dobermann, Dr. Anna Blennerhassett, Joseph McArthur, Carlos Grijalva-Eternod, Hannah Barton, Mr Steven Martin, Amrita Dhutia, Jo Lovett, Shirley Elliott, Mashal Shamsuddin, Dr. Judith Eling, Genevieve Southgate, Julie, Amy Green, Ricardo Costa, John Somner, Dr. Hilary Cooling, Ms Jane Beenstock, Elliot Clissold, Tom Merewether, Emma Allan, John Stoves, Emily van de Venter, Tahmina Parveen, Shauna Grant, Diana Divajeva, Nickie Wright, Dr. Elizabeth Archer, Robert Shearer, FRCS Dr. Honey Smith, Dr. Damian Kenny,

Trainee Clinical Psychologist Trainee Clinical Psychologist Retired lecturer Foundation Doctor Student and Healthy Planet UK COP19 delegation member Junior Doctor Pharmacology student and Open Access Button Project Lead PhD Student Foundation year 1 Doctor Research Associate Medical student Student General Practitioner Student Public Health trainee, Southwark and General Practitioner, Lambeth Student Bowel Cancer Researcher Medical Student Engineer and specialist in Early Warning Systems Clinical Research Fellow Medical doctor Locum consultant in public health Medical student and Coordinator, Healthy Planet St. George’s Medical Student and Healthy Planet UCL Committee member Medical Student and Healthy Planet UCL Committee member Hospital consultant Public Health Speciality Registrar Medical Student Assistant Contracts Manager, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Health researcher Occupational Therapist Retired General Practitioner and sustainable healthcare teacher Consultant Urological Surgeon (retired) General Practitioner General Practitioner and Community Education Advisor in General Practice Dr. Cristina Renzi, Research Associate, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health Helen Collins, Administrative Assistant Joana Catarina Hiew de Sousa Magalhães, Medical student Dr. Sarah Hill, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh Virupaksha Sadhunavar, Doctor Dr. Bryony Hopkinshaw, Foundation Year 1 Doctor


Maija Sequeira, Jack Czauderna, Dr. Huw Morgan, Dr. Charlie Kenward, Dr. Oyinlola Oyebode, Dr. Sarah Corlett, Dr. Lucy Pocock, Dr. Sharon Drewett, Dr. Rita Issa Dr. Nicholas Hopkinson, David Carroll Dr. Grace Thompson, Dr. Katherine Brook, Aisling Quiery, Dr. Nigel Speight, Emily Prowse, David Williams, Dr. Fred Martineau, Dr. Elizabeth Rachel Anderson, Nathan Post, Thomas Shanahan, Dr. Sarah Lou Bailey, Elen Newcombe MSc, Dr. Stuart Murray, Anelise Rosa, Dr. Trevor Trueman, Dr. Antonia Wrigley, Dr. Brian Francis Beveridge, Amelia Martin, Olivia Drewett, Dr. B Lees, Dr. Kenneth Burke, Dr. Rachel Bate, Mr Stephen Robinson, Mrs Liz Paxton Tim Campion-Smith, Dr. Dino Motti, Dr. J T Brennan, Rosemary Kate Hughes, James Arrich, Gina Sahota, Zoe Atkinson,

Student Retired General Practitioner Retired General Practitioner General Practitioner Trainee Public Health Registrar Consultant in Public Health General Practitioner Registrar General Practitioner Foundation Doctor Respiratory Physician Medical Student General Practitioner Registrar Doctor Medical doctor (General Practice trainee) Paediatrician Paediatric Occupational Therapist Project Manager Clinical Research Fellow Specialist Registrar in Genitourinary Medicine Student and Medsin National Activities Director Medsin National Policy & Advocacy Director Clinical Research Fellow Environmental Consultant General Practitioner Student Retired General Practitioner General Practitioner Registrar Retired Consultant Ophthalmologist Medical student Medical Student General Practitioner specialty registrar General Practitioner General Practitioner Specialist Trainee Medical Student Paediatric Occupational Therapist Medical Student Medical Doctor NHS Psychotherapist Senior Occupational Therapist Medical Student Student Art Psychotherapist


Dr. Kambiz Boomla, General Practitioner Rosa Roberts, Medical Student Dr. Robert MacGibbon, Retired General Practitioner Debra Fox MCD; MRes; BA (Health) RM, HIA & Spatial Planning Researcher /Consultant Stefanie Gissing, Fourth year medical student Dr. Lucy Potter, Junior Doctor Stephanie Flynn, Medical student Nele Jensen, PhD student Amy Alsop, Doctor Dalvir Kular, Medical student Neil Chadborn, Research fellow Jennifer Almeida, Medical student Dr. Stephen Halpin, Doctor Abigail Sabey, Senior Lecturer Health Research Charles Martin, Consultant anaesthetist Dr. Paul Selway, Hospice Physician Roger Kline, Research fellow Gavin Barlow, Consultant in Infection Dr. Peter Poore, International health systems adviser Lynn Barnett, Retired mental health worker Lindsay Solera-Deuchar, Medical Student Dr. M R Bahl, Retired NHS Consultant Professor Jane Salvage, Nursing consultant Eilidh Clark, Medical Student/Edinburgh Medsin Branch President Stuart Mclellan, Consultant Annabel Hammond, Student Nurse Martha Martin, Medical Student Dr. David Kirby, General Practitioner Dr. Christopher A Birt, Senior Research Associate / Consultant in Public Health Katherine Hickman, General Practitioner Dr. Jonathan Cleary, General Practitioner Amina Aitsi-Selmi, Doctor Dr. Sarah Butt, General Practitioner Julie Hotchkiss, Consultant in Public Health Tom Merewether, Medical Student Emily van de Venter, BSc MSc MFPH Public Health Speciality Registrar Oliver Isaac, Medical student David Lindhard-Tordrup, Research Fellow Michael Durbar, Medical Student Felicia Yeung, Medical student Dr. Jennifer Gibson, Retired doctor Miraya Jun, Research Officer


Dr. Niall Sinclair MacLeod, Dr. Alison Payne Dr. G S Mead Logan Mills Dr. Richard Worth Hector Hall Ahmed El-Sayed Katherine O'Shea Hannah Emmett Dr. William Gibson Hollie Kluczewski Thomas Stephenson Dr. Thomas Kilner Dr. Daniela Kirwan Alice Inman Jane Howson Nina Kumari Alessandra Dr Jeffrie Strang Mrs M. A. Strang Dr. Emma Kirk Dr. Peter Waterson Dr. Jill Rapoport Dr. Peter Allen Mr Minesh Patel Dr. Annette Stiggelbout Dr. Tanzilah barrow Nathan Doull Dr Richard Worth Lois Carter Rachel Scantlebury Dr Peter Baker Dr Catherine Maytum Andrew Prayy Dr Jane Edge Dr Andrew Cordell Robert Gran Dr Will Marsh Matthew Hodson Wendy Preston Lucie Hooper

General Practitioner General Practitioner Retired GP Medical Student Consultant Physician (Honorary) Medical Student Student Medical Student Medical student Doctor Medical Student Medical student and Education Director, Medsin Emergency Medicine Doctor Doctor (Infectious Diseases and Microbiology) Physiotherapist Health Visitor Medical student Research Officer in Health policy Independent Public Health Consultant Former health services manager General Practice ST1 Retired General Practitioner Retired General Practitioner General Practitioner Pharmacist GP trainee ST3 radiology Medical Student Consultant Physician (Honorary) Projects Manager TALC, Health development charity Public health registrar Public Health Registrar General Practitioner Health improvement specialist General Practitioner General Practitioner Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care Statistics, St George's, University of London and Kingston University Foundation Year 2 Doctor COPD Nurse Consultant Advanced nurse Researcher


Sarah Bird Dr Ted Cantrell Sandra Olive Dr Jessica Watson Susan Mikes Dr Nirandeep Rehill Dr Linda Thomas Dr Helen Asquith Dr Jane Roderic-Evans Dr Andrew Carr Dr Helen Clemence Dr Piyush Pushkar Benjamin Beattie

Public Health Practitioner Retired Physician Respiratory Nurse Specialist GP registrar and Academic Clinical Fellow, Bristol Community Matron Specialty Registrar in Public Health General Practitioner Specialist Registrar in Public Health General Practitioner GP Registrar GP registrar Psychiatry SHO Medical student

We have included a list of references, upon which – amongst other sources of evidence – the statements in this letter are founded, overleaf and at http://bit.ly/1bhxMZe.


1. COMEAP (2011) ‘The Mortality Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution in the United Kingdom: A report by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants’ Health Protection Agency: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317137012567 (accessed November 2013) 2. IPCC AR4 Chapter 8: Human Health. In: ‘Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’ 391–431 (Cambridge University Press, 2007). URL: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch8.html Retrieved October 2013. 3. "Working Group I Contribution to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers". URL: http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/uploads/WGI_AR5_SPM_brochure.pdf Retrieved November 2013. 4. HEAL. The unpaid health bill: how coal power plants make us sick. (Health and Environment Alliance, 2013). at <http://www.env-health.org/IMG/pdf/heal_report_the_unpaid_health_bill_ how_coal_power_plants_make_us_sick_final.pdf> 5. Loomis, D. et al. The carcinogenicity of outdoor air pollution. Lancet Oncol. (2013). doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70487-X 6. COMEAP (2009). Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution: Effect on Mortality. Health Protection Agency: http://www.comeap.org.uk/documents/reports/63-long-term-exposure-to-air-pollutioneffect-on-mortality.html (accessed December 2010) 7. DARA. Climate vulnerability monitor: a guide to the cold calculus of a hot planet. (DARA, 2012). http://www.daraint.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/EXECUTIVE-AND-TECHNICALSUMMARY.pdf Retrieved November 2013. 8. Costello, A. et al ‘Managing the health effects of climate change’ The Lancet 16/05/09 (Vol. 373, Issue 9676, pp 1693-1733) doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60935-18. 9. Howarth, R. W., Santoro, R. & Ingraffea, A. Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations. Clim. Change 106, 679–690 (2011). 10. Finkel, M., Hays, J. & Law, A. The Shale Gas Boom and the Need for Rational Policy. Am. J. Public Health 103, 1161–1163 (2013). 11. Tenenbaum, D. J. Oil Sands Development: A Health Risk Worth Taking? Environ. Health Perspect. 117, A150 (2009). 12. Anderson, K. 'UK unveils Office of unconventional gas & oil – another nail in the climate change coffin?' URL: http://kevinanderson.info/blog/uks-office-of-unconventional-gas-oil-anothernail-in-the-climate-change-coffin/ Retrieved November 2013. 13. West, J. J. et al. Co-benefits of mitigating global greenhouse gas emissions for future air quality and human health. Nat. Clim. Change 3, 885–889 (2013). 14. Haines, A. & Dora, C. How the low carbon economy can improve health. BMJ 344, e1018– e1018 (2012). 14. Air Quality - Environmental Audit Committee: The costs of poor air quality. URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmenvaud/229/22906.htm#a11 Accessed November 2013. © Parliamentary copyright 2010.


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