This fifth episode of the Health emergency of climate change series will explore climate change’s effect on our food and water, and the impact that human consumption is having on the planet.

This episode will look at food and water-related diseases which are aggravated by climate change, how the food we eat contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, and what health professionals can do to promote good health and protect our planet.

An unstable climate with rising temperatures and extreme weather events increases our exposure to pathogens in food and water. This causes health implications, disease, and death around the world. Our own consumption habits are exacerbating this problem, with the food system responsible for 20-30% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, most of which originate from meat and diary livestock.

The speakers for this episode are Dr Lindsay Jaacks, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Chancellor’s Fellow at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security at The University of Edinburgh, and Dame Parveen Kumar, Professor of Medicine and Education at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, gastroenterologist and Past President of the Royal Society of Medicine and the BMA.

During this webinar speakers will:

• Describe the health implications of climate change’s impact on food and water supplies
• Outline the impact that human food consumption is having on the planet, and how sustainable practices and diets can mitigate these negative effects
• Advise healthcare professionals on how to mitigate climate change by promoting sustainable practices and healthy diets to prevent illness and digestive issues

In this 10-part Health emergency of climate change series, experts from across the health community will unite to address the impact that climate change is having on human health. By positioning health and wellbeing at the centre of the climate change discussion, the Royal Society of Medicine will give healthcare professionals the opportunity to understand the links between climate change and health and recognise how they can help combat climate change and its effects.

Do you have a question for the panelists? If so, please submit your questions here and they will be answered during the webinar.

RSM would like to thank Michael Rapp for his generous support enabling free access to this webinar series.

Registration for this webinar will close 2 hours prior to the start time. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Join in the conversation online using #RSMClimateChangeFollow RSM on Twitter: @RoySocMed

Date and time

Tuesday 11 May 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm BST
CPD Accredited