Policymakers, advocates, researchers and others around the world are increasingly considering how national policies can best advance climate change solutions that protect health, as well as health solutions that protect the climate. As part of a project funded by the Wellcome Trust, and in partnership with researchers from six other countries/regions, this study focused on national policy in the United Kingdom.
Elta was part of the research team led by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and University of East Anglia, and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The study is part of a consortium of six national and regional research teams led by the Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University.
The research involved interviews with 42 government, healthcare, academia, and civil society experts. Siloed decision-making, resource constraints, and short-term thinking were found to limit policy integration, despite widespread recognition of the growing impact of climate change on human health.
Highlighting co-benefits, leveraging NHS scale, and learning from devolved governments are ways to improve. Better policies and outcomes require cross-sector coordination, dedicated resources, more fit-for-purpose evidence, and community engagement. A better resourced, holistic approach that addresses wider determinants of health and prioritises vulnerable populations could significantly improve UK climate and health policy outputs and outcomes.
Rayner, T, Smith, E., Howarth, C. and Graham, J. (2025). Advancing and Integrating Climate and Health Policies in the United Kingdom: Insights from National Stakeholders. University of East Anglia and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. https://www.doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/SQ3R7
