Many health crises are also environment crises.
Climate crisis impacts affect food systems, increase the spread of diseases, and is also manifest in air pollution and urban heat, all significant factors for human health. See World Health Organisation fact sheet here https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health. Health is bound up in the various Government Climate Change strategies including e.g. diet, where action on climate is also action on human health. Another key area is greenspace where human health benefits align with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
ACHWS next event focuses on the relationship between arts & culture, health & wellbeing, and the climate crisis. We will scope out multiple connections with the help of three presentations:
- Presentation by Ben Twist, Director, Creative Carbon Scotland and Lauren Duffy, artist, RIG Arts on the Clyde Rebuilt project which focused on climate change adaptation and in particularly urban heat. RIG Arts, one of three arts organisations involved in this Glasgow City Region EU funded adaptation project, highlighted the health and social dimensions, enabling local engagement with the issues through activities including creating zines;
- Martin Johnston, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s Head of Sustainability and Jackie Sands Public Health Improvement Senior: Arts and Health will discuss the #netcarbonzero challenge from an NHS Board perspective (buildings, energy, food, transport, travel, waste, greenspace);
- Victoria Hume of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance will present on their Climate Award – why they introduced it and what sorts of things it has highlighted.
We are very lucky to have Jean Cameron who is Executive Producer on the Culture Summit 2022 to MC this event for us. With lots of opportunities for discussion the event will open up the issues and show how the arts and culture have a key role to play.
Please contact Lauren Blair at Voluntary Health Scotland with any questions about this event.