Professor Mike Tipton, Trustee, The Physiological Society and Professor of Human and Applied Physiology, University of Portsmouth
This week could potentially see record breaking temperatures here in the UK. It is therefore timely that The Physiological Society is launching a new report ‘The Climate Emergency: Research Gaps and Policy Priorities’ and hosting an event on climate change in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Foundation of Science & Technology featuring Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, Revati Phalkey, Head, Climate Change and Health Unit at UK Health Security Agency, and Modi Mwatsama, Head of Climate Interventions, Climate and Health at Wellcome Trust.
The World Health Organization has identified climate change as the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Physiology is an essential part of the scientific response to climate change. From reducing energy use and emissions to mitigate climate change, through to the adaptation of human and animal physiology to ensure the health of the planet and its inhabitants, physiology is central to tackling climate change and understanding its impact.
The Physiological Society’s new report highlights the research gaps that relate to climate change and physiology. These include using thermal physiology principles to help humans feel comfortable at warmer temperatures without relying on air conditioners, developing sustainable diets that meet nutritional requirements, and using physiology to inform urban planning.
The policy response to climate change requires a cross disciplinary approach and the report also proposes how governments, civil society and research funders can respond to the climate challenges. Physiology sits at the intersection between physical and chemical sciences and therefore forms an important part of the solutions. These could include measures such as developing early warning systems and safe working practices guidelines for different extreme weather events. We have also proposed that heatwaves should be named in the same way as we name storms in order to raise awareness of the threat. It makes the risk to health clear and will aid the communication of approaching heatwaves through the media and government agencies.
Physiology is the science of how the body works and physiologists are therefore crucial players as part of the cross disciplinary response to climate change. Whether it’s developing effective public health advice for extreme weather or planning longer term strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, our new report demonstrates the valuable role physiology and physiologists are playing.