Sustainable DevelopmentHow the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health promotes it

Sustainable Development- how the CIEH promotes itGeographical Association, North Staffordshire BranchTuesday 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 Stressors

ChemicalStressors

PhysicalStressors

Social 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

EnvironmentRe

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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 varyAll 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 2005International 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 roleA 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 debateTwo 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 preachOur 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.orgClimate change and its health

impactshttp://www.cieh.org/policy/climate_change_health_implications.htmlOur world, our wellbeinghttp://www.cieh.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=37708

Thank you for listening

Questions welcome!Contact details:David Kidney, Head of Policy, CIEHTel. 020 7827 5902d.kidney@cieh.org www.cieh.org