29th April 2025: Emergency Climate and Health Press briefing held as politicians finally accept need for urgent action

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The Prime Minister convened an emergency press conference at Parliament today to announce his government’s commitment to taking immediate, joined-up, and urgent action to prevent and adapt to the climate and health emergency. Joined by the Chief Scientific Officer, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Public Perspective Representative, he outlined the wide-reaching policy commitments needed to appropriately tackle the crisis, and made it clear that the government’s approach would both prioritise fairness, and, place health and wellbeing at the centre of all policy decisions.

This mock briefing, which was reminiscent of the emergency briefings held during the Covid pandemic, included an update on the current domestic and global climate situation, the threat to UK and global public health, and the urgent steps our government plans to take to protect the public.

The speakers emphasised, that just as with Covid, the government must be led by the science if they are to protect the public and the NHS from the escalating climate health catastrophe. The potential to respond to the climate health emergency by rolling out a bold, impactful and justice-based re-orientation of health-related infrastructure and services to benefit the health of the whole nation was also emphasised. 

“I know this is all hard to hear, but it is important that we are honest with you. If we do not take appropriate action now to adapt, and most importantly to prevent further climate breakdown, our NHS, our schools, and our agricultural systems will not survive, and our population’s health will suffer”.  

Dr Lynne Jones OBE, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and ‘Chief Medical Officer

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Speakers acknowledged and criticised the delay, disinformation and lack of urgency that successive governments have been guilty of in relation to the climate emergency, but promised a new era of honesty and transparency. It was acknowledged that the public must be both told the truth about the difficulties that we as a nation face, and must also be engaged actively in creating just and credible solutions. To symbolise the planned public engagement, a patient representative joined the scientific and medical advisors in addressing the conference. 

“This government recognises that facing the truth as a nation is a difficult and necessary step to taking action, and we are committed to both honesty and action. From today, our nation will face this threat together”.

Mr Neil Monaghan, ‘Prime Minister’

Despite the predominantly optimistic tone maintained throughout during the conference, speakers did not shy away from honestly describing the difficult hurdles and decisions we face, but made it clear that inaction was not an option as the consequent rise in severe weather events, crop failures and energy instability were simply too damaging to public cohesion, and the health consequences simply too great for our already overstretched NHS.

“If our emissions continue at the current rate, scientists warn us that we are likely to face, within the next decades, harmful ‘tipping points’ …One of these tipping points could have a catastrophic impact on the UK – and that is the slowing and shutting down of the Gulf Stream, which is part of a wider system of currents called the AMOC. Without the warm waters coming to the UK from the tropics, the UK and Northern Europe would get dramatically colder with more extreme weather and more storms”.

Dr Peter Knapp, Air Quality specialist and ‘Chief Scientific Officer

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“I welcome the government’s announcement of these new policies and am grateful that they are finally taking the crisis seriously. This is important not only to mitigate further damage to the planet and public health, but also to signal to young people that their voices are being heard and listened to, and that the older generation are taking responsibility. This may go some way to restoring trust and repairing some of the psychological damage that past moral betrayal has caused in our youth”

Marion Neffgen, NHS Medical Psychotherapist and Public Perspective Representative

The Prime Minister presented several key policy approaches which he promised would underscore a joined up government approach to the climate emergency and which would place health, wellbeing and justice at its core. These included:

  • Rapid decarbonization of the Energy sector by 2030
  • An immediate end to all fossil fuel expansion licences
  • Action to reduce energy consumption to include a massive investment in insulation and low carbon home heating solutions
  • Public and active transport infrastructure and subsidies
  • Investment in a plant-based farming future 

The Policies announced are to be primarily funded by redeploying fossil fuel subsidies, and taxing polluters and the super rich. A commitment was also made by the government to ensure that the public are central to decision making through the creation of a citizens assembly that will work hand in hand in government to shape policy. 

Patients and health professionals were present at the briefing to share their concerns about the health impacts of the climate emergency on their friends, families and patients.

The press briefing was followed by a second briefing outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs to present the government’s new policies related to food and farming which are being put in place to protect the environment and public health.

Reaction to today’s announcements: 

Parents for Futures said:

“Today, finally we have grounds to hope that our children’s future will not be blighted by the fall-out of the climate and ecological crisis. I pray that our government holds firm to its commitments, and that the people of the UK can work together to overcome the unprecedented and underestimated emergency that we face:.

Doctors Association UK said:

“Finally we are seeing the appropriate and urgent action that is required to protect public health from the unfolding threat of the climate and ecological emergency. By ensuring that public health and equity lie at the heart of climate and health policy we have a genuine chance of improving societal wellbeing and protecting the NHS. For the first time in decades, we have reason to be optimistic about the future of our health and health service in the UK”

Press contact: e-mail: contact@healthforxr.com

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Notes for Editors: