Sustainable DevelopmentHow the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health promotes it
Sustainable Development- how the CIEH promotes it
Geographical Association, North Staffordshire Branch
Tuesday 8 December 2011
David Kidney, Head of Policy, CIEH
The CIEH - Who we are and what we do
• A charity• A professional organisation with over
10,000 members in the public and private sectors
• A knowledge centre for environmental health
• A qualifications and certification body- Accredits degree courses – professional
training- International provider of accredited industry
qualifications e.g. food hygiene training
Scope of environmental health
Biological StressorsBiological Stressors
ChemicalStressorsChemicalStressors
PhysicalStressorsPhysicalStressors
Social Stressors
Social Stressors
Psychosocial Stressors
Psychosocial Stressors
Contributions of Environmental Health Specialists:
by assessing, correcting and preventing impact of stressors
Living Environment
Home Environmen
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Work Environmen
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Recreational
EnvironmentR
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Do you believe in the science of climate change?
Why shouldn’t you accept the science?
• Known shortcomings
• The Unknowns
• Modelling of scenarios
• Conspiracy theories (UEA – gate)
Is the temperature rising?
Is the change temporary?
• Sunspots
• Volcanoes
Is the cause anthropogenic?• Is it the industrial
revolution and burning fossil fuels?
• Is it CFCs and similar compounds?
• Is it livestock – and methane emissions?
Does it matter what the cause is?
• It does if there’s a problem and you want to know how to solve it
• But is there more than one problem anyway?
Sustainable development and One Planet
• Where are we in relation to peak oil?
• Have you checked out the world’s human population lately?
• How shall we behave faced with shortages of food, water and other natural resources?
Sustainable systems – the relationships
The Economy
Human Society
The Biosphere
Source: Forum for the Future
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.
Kenneth Boulding, economist
Climate change and the precautionary principle
• Running out of food and water
• Running out of energy
• Climate-related new threats
• Wars fought over resources – and the impacts of conflict
Action or caution?
Principle 15 Rio Declaration Where there are threats of serious or
irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation
So what actions?
Mitigation• Global action to cut carbon
emissionsAdaptation• Protection from impacts of
changeFairness• Poorest/least emitting
• Inter-generational
Climate change impacts vary
All populations are vulnerable - but some are more vulnerable than others:• Initial health risks vary
• Coastal regions, mega-cities, mountainous and polar regions particularly vulnerable
• Health effects more severe for elderly and people with infirmities
The Stern Review
The world has to act now on climate change or face devastating economic consequences, according to this report compiled by Sir Nicholas Stern
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol - a Treaty negotiated December 1997 in the city of Kyoto, Japan came into force February 2005
International community’s only legally binding commitments to cut emissions – ends 2012
Copenhagen Climate Conference
CIEH activities and efforts
• 192 nations gathered in Copenhagen to seek a deal on fighting global warming, in a series of meetings 7– 18 December 2009• Only some signed a deal the Obama
administration called "meaningful" but which fell short of expectations for the summit• The talks go on – currently in Durban
Environmental health’s role
A warmer and more variable climate:• Threatens higher levels of some air
pollutants
• Increases transmission of diseases through unclean water and contaminated food
• Compromises agricultural production in less developed countries
• Increases the hazards of extreme weather
The public health impacts
Each year the basic determinants of health are already harsh enough:• 1.2 million people die from causes
attributable to urban air pollution• 2.2 million from diarrhoea, largely from lack
of access to clean water supply and sanitation, and from poor hygiene
• 3.5 million from malnutrition
The CIEH’s contribution to the debate
Two publications in 2008:• Climate change and its
health impacts• Climate change, public
health and health inequalities
And continuing the dialogue
• Conference and working group
• Call for evidence
• Publication of case studies of environmental health-led initiatives
Our world, our wellbeing
68 case studies from across England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Copies sent to Ministers in Belfast, Cardiff and Westminster
Where next with this work?
To Rio!
At Rio+20 next summer
Perhaps a new phase of Local Agenda 21?
Training for new entrants to the profession
• Graduate entry and we set the curriculum
• Experiential learning required before entry – and CPD after
And training for the world
• Level 2 Award in Environmental Principles and Best Practice
• Certificate in Environmental Management
• Level 3 Award in Environmental Management
Training for a more sustainable future
• A new business model: circular, not linear
• New-build low carbon, resource efficient
• Energy efficient retro-fit (Green Deal)
• Existing skills, STEM skills, new skills
• We want to help
We also try to practise what we preach
Our events venue 15Hatfields
An objective standard of sustainable management
BS8900:
currently a pilot Standard
- and the CIEH first to attain it
The CIEH works globally as well as locally
• Members/affiliates in 30 countries
• An International Special Interest Group
• An international portfolio of contracts for awards, training, expert advice
Water for Kids
• A charity working to bring clean, safe water supplies to children in developing countries
• Founded by, and supported by, the CIEH
• Would you like to donate?
London Olympics and Paralympics 2012
A showcase to the world of sustainability:• Health and safety in construction phase• Food safety, hygiene, health and nutrition for
all• A legacy of embedded sustainable
developmentEnvironmental impact of a global project
EHP today, 2025
April 2025 issue Contents:• What Happens When The
Lights Go Out?• Remembering The Big
Flood• A Day in The Life of Moz
Keyto• Salmonella on the Rise• Unions Lobby for
Maximum Working Temperature
Peter HillChartered Environmental Health PractitionerWelwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Where to find CIEH resourcesCIEH website: www.cieh.org
Climate change and its health impacts
http://www.cieh.org/policy/climate_change_health_implications.html
Our world, our wellbeinghttp://www.cieh.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=37708
Thank you for listening
Questions welcome!Contact details:
David Kidney, Head of Policy, CIEH
Tel. 020 7827 5902
www.cieh.org