College Principal launches landmark guide on climate, nature and public health 

Principal of St Edmund Hall, Professor Baroness Willis CBE, FRS, Chair of Peers for the Planet and member of the House of Lords climate and nature action group, helped launch a major new guide for UK parliamentarians highlighting the growing threat that climate change and biodiversity loss pose to human health.

Unveiled in the House of Lords, the guide brings together the latest scientific evidence and expert recommendations, setting out practical actions to protect public health, strengthen resilience and support communities facing increasing climate-related risks.

Principal of St Edmund Hall, who emphasised the need for immediate action. “The science is clear: climate change is no longer a distant or abstract threat,” she said. “Its impacts are already affecting people’s health, livelihoods and daily lives.”

The guide sets out ten priorities for policymakers, including preparing health services for climate impacts, reducing air pollution, creating climate-resilient communities and protecting the natural environment. It aims to support informed decision-making and encourage action that will improve public health while delivering wider social and economic benefits.

The full guide and supporting evidence are available through Peers for the Planet.