Policy position: Climate change and women’s health

Climate change is a substantial and growing threat to women’s health and lives in the UK and across the world. Already disproportionately affecting those at risk of poorer health outcomes, the impacts for all women will only accelerate without transformative action.

Recommendations in brief

1. The UK Government must deliver on its commitments under the Paris Agreement and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by accelerating policies which support every sector to transition to net zero, prioritising health and equity in these policies, and by rapidly phasing out support for fossil fuels.
2. The UK Government must take every opportunity to support women’s health and gender equality in countries most vulnerable to climate change, by reversing cuts to overseas aid, delivering strong international climate finance commitments, and advocating for stronger international action to protect women’s health and gender equality.
3. The governments across the UK must ensure the health service is both fully supported to decarbonise in line with wider UK net zero commitments, and well-prepared for the increasing climate-related risks to health and health service delivery. A clear commitment to this goal must be supported by substantial capital investment in NHS estate and infrastructure, wider investment in women’s health services and initiatives which are designed and developed with service users.
4. Each UK government must ensure robust adaptation plans are in place across all sectors to help prevent changes to the UK climate impacting women’s health and pregnancy outcomes. This includes ensuring access to healthcare during and after flooding and other weather events, considering pregnancy in planning for long-term adaptation to extreme heat, and preparing for future changes to disease risks.