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Some things I learned from meeting planetary health researchers and doctors at @IASS_Potsdam last week...
1. Doctors know how to talk to people about climate
2. Doctors understand their job is political
3. Doctors deal with some tough research
1. Doctors know how to talk to people about climate
2. Doctors understand their job is political
3. Doctors deal with some tough research
1. Talking about climate is like giving a cancer diagnosis. You need compassion and professionalism. Doctors trusted and well placed to do this. They know to spend 10% of the discussion on diagnosis and 90% on questions, solutions and actions.
2. Political aspects of climate action are obvious to health professionals. They have seen the success of multi-faceted smoking policies targeting both structural and individual elements of consumption. They have seen the failure of obesity policies targeting only the latter.
Besides this, doctors seem to be quick at organizing, taking positions and getting on the street (at least, compared to the rest of us...).
As in medical emergencies, you often need to move quickly, without perfect or complete information.
As in medical emergencies, you often need to move quickly, without perfect or complete information.
3. We should probably listen to planetary health researchers more. I thought I knew a bit of stuff, but listening to a keynote by @kristie_ebi, I was astounded at the level of current and potential climate impacts on human health and mortality.
