Some people still think that climate change means we will sit on the beach for longer and have more BBQs.

Sadly, the reality of climate change is far more complex and one of the key areas where it affects us is our health. This is because our personal health is inextricably linked to the health of our planet, ecosystems, and societal infrastructures. All of which are undermined by climate change.

Climate change, and how it impacts on our health, can be overwhelming and it’s easy to bury our heads in the sand. However, by opening conversations, sharing our hopes and concerns is the starting point to raising awareness and feeling we’re not alone and can do things to make a difference – taking baby steps. When we talk, we support each other, and when we are active and work together, we feel we are facing the problems – thus the barriers begin to break down and we can begin to identify ways to become more resilient. We will provide information to share with your community to help you to raise awareness of the impacts on health (especially on the most vulnerable) and guide you on the steps you and your community can take to mitigate against them.

Health is, and will continue to be, affected by a changing climate in many ways. We are focusing on how the following three areas affect us:

• Extreme heat waves
• Toxic air pollution (made worse by high temperatures)
• Insects and the diseases carried by them

Awareness raising through education and understanding can be very powerful as it encourages people to change their attitudes and behaviour. This in turn helps us to make informed decisions about lifestyle choices

This Pillar is extremely important because it encourages people to make (even small) changes in their lifestyles, thereby taking ownership of the problem and making themselves more resilient to the health impacts of climate change.

Come and join this exciting, leading area of Climate Change Resilience by signing up for this Pillar!