Advancing and integrating climate and health policy in the United Kingdom: Insights from national policy actors

Introduction: Calls for better integration of climate and health policy agendas are increasingly common to enhance synergies and minimize conflicts. This article explores U.K. policy actors’ perspectives on the current status and potential for more effective integration.

Materials and methods: 43 semi-structured interviews with individuals working in climate change, health, their intersection, and adjacent policy areas were transcribed and subjected to qualitative content analysis.

Results: Most participants agreed that climate and health policies require further integration to increase support for climate policy and maximize health benefits. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the growing significance and scale of climate change impacts on human health, practical policy integration remains limited due to, inter alia, siloed decision-making, resource constraints, and short-term thinking. Opportunities for integrating these agendas include emphasizing co-benefits, leveraging the scale of the National Health Service (NHS), and learning from devolved governments. Proposed strategies to improve policies and outcomes involve enhanced cross-sector coordination, dedicated resources, fit-for-purpose evidence development, and enhanced community engagement.

Discussion: A better-resourced, holistic approach addressing the wider determinants of health and prioritizing vulnerable populations could significantly improve climate and health policy outcomes. The 10 Year Health Plan for England offers opportunities to build on established cross-government climate commitments and consider how co-benefits from illness prevention can be achieved most effectively.

Conclusion: There is considerable potential to further integrate climate policy and health policy with clear perceived advantages. While long-standing barriers exist, promising opportunities are emerging.