Net-Zero 2030 Action Plan

Many of the climate actions detailed in this report can also benefit our health and wellbeing. The work we do to reduce carbon emissions can improve air quality, encourage physical activity, make homes warmer, reduce the risk of flooding, and more. By exploring published research and targeted local data, we are taking steps to identify how the Carbon Net Zero 2030 Action Plan benefits health and wellbeing in North Tyneside. 

Climate change has the potential to negatively impact people’s health. Cold temperatures can increase stress on the heart, while air pollution can lead to breathing difficulties. Flooding can spread infection and cause physical injury, while extreme heat can threaten food production and water availability. Climate change can also have indirect impacts on health, through mechanisms such as poverty, stress, mental health, and social isolation. 

Climate change affects everyone. However, some communities are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others. Older people, children, certain occupational groups (for example those working outside), those with disabilities, pregnant people, and those with chronic medical conditions are more vulnerable to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the inequalities in health between our most affluent and deprived communities result from unfair differences in the conditions people grow, live, work and age in. Climate change has the potential to worsen existing health inequalities. 

Using local data, we can identify where our most vulnerable communities are. We can use this information to ensure those with the greatest needs are prioritised when it comes to climate change mitigation and adaption actions. The following themes have been identified as having a positive environmental impact and are now explored from a health perspective.

Making homes more energy efficient

Living in a cold home can worsen health and wellbeing. We understand that improving the energy efficiency of buildings can not only reduce carbon emissions, but also keep homes warmer for longer. 

People with circulatory diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, and respiratory diseases, such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are particularly at risk when living in a cold home. Older people face multiple health risks as dementia and Alzheimer’s are worsened. Cold temperatures can also increase the risk of falls. 

Cold homes can also bring about damp and mould, meaning children are more at risk of developing chest and breathing problems. The risk of slow physical and cognitive development is also increased. 

Indirect impacts on health must also be considered as heating an inefficient home can be expensive. As the cost of living rises, worries over bills can result in increased stress and anxiety which can in turn lead to high blood pressure.

Decarbonising heat and power

Using fossil fuels to heat and power the country has a significant impact on air quality. When fossil fuels are burned, harmful pollutants are released into the air we breathe, risking our health and wellbeing. 

Long-term exposure to air pollution reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The risk of lung cancer, stroke, and infection are also increased. Older people, pregnant people, and those with existing medical conditions are especially at risk. Children are also particularly vulnerable to pollutants because their bodies, organs, and immune systems are still developing. Air pollution damages health during childhood and increases the risk of disease later in life. 

Transitioning to renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and air-source heat pumps, can improve air quality and ultimately our health, since there is no combustion process to create harmful pollutants. 

This will also improve energy security as we can reduce our reliance on imported gas. Energy security relates to the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price. This can reduce anxiety and stress for people worried about their energy bills.

Nature based solutions 

Improving North Tyneside’s green and blue spaces can result in a number of health benefits, particularly in relation to extreme weather events. 

High temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and fatigue, especially for older people or those with existing medical conditions. Extreme heat can also worsen air pollution, leading to breathing difficulties. Strategic tree planting can provide shade, lower surrounding air temperatures, and remove harmful pollutants from the air. 

Flooding will likely become more commonplace as climate change continues. As well as the risk of drowning and physical injury, flooding can cause significant financial loss and long-term psychological harm, particularly for people living in deprived areas. People have been known to experience post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after flooding. Enhancing natural environments such as woodlands, floodplains, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) can reduce the risk of flooding by slowing and storing excess water. 

Green and blue spaces can also bring communities together and reduce loneliness. People who live in greener neighbourhoods often report higher mental wellbeing.

Decarbonising transport 

Greener modes of transport support our transition to carbon net zero but also provide multiple health benefits for our communities. 

Much like heat and power, decarbonising the way we travel can improve the air we breathe. Transport is a major cause of air pollution - in the UK, air pollution is responsible for an estimated 28,000 to 36,000 excess deaths a year. Health costs are estimated to be between £8.5 billion and £20.2 billion a year. Switching to greener modes of travel, such as electric vehicles, bicycles, and clean public transport, can reduce carbon emissions and improve our health.

 Increasing active travel, such as walking, cycling, and wheeling, is another co-benefit of decarbonising transport. Physical inactivity is a major factor in obesity-related illnesses and directly contributes to 1 in 6 deaths in the UK. Obesity greatly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Active travel increases physical activity and can reduce the health risks associated with obesity.

Adapting to climate change

The effects of climate change are expected to become more intense over time, bringing an increase in extreme weather events. It is important that we become more resilient to flooding, heatwaves, storms, and the health risks associated with each. 

Climate change could impact on the safety and security of our food system. Floods and droughts can ruin crops, destroy livestock, and increase the risk of disease within food sources. Healthy, quality food could become limited and lead to rising costs, increasing the risk of malnutrition and obesity. Meanwhile, excessive temperatures and humidity could allow bacteria to thrive and increase the risk of salmonella and E. coli. 

Extreme weather events can also restrict healthcare services. To protect the health of inpatients, it will be essential to ensure healthcare buildings are resilient against extreme cold and heat. As storms become more intense, the risk of power failure also threatens the delivery of healthcare services. In addition, the response times of emergency services depend on the quality of the road network which can become compromised by flooding.

Integration of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment into the Action Plan

The Authority continues to learn from the challenges in the climate-environment-health relationship and our local health systems are on the frontline of protecting populations from the threats of a changing and more variable climate as outlined above. One of the changes in the way the Authority is adapting its approach to this is in the addition of a Public Heath Workstream on the Internal Net Zero 2030 Board. This change will broaden out the Action Plan objectives to include a discrete suite of complimentary health focused activities which will be mutually beneficial in informing the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment looking at the current and future climate / health landscape.