Climate / Health workers to lead local climate march
THE COP26 climate summit in Glasgow will make itself felt in Shetland at the weekend as health workers invite local people to join them in a demonstration on Saturday afternoon urging world leader to take urgent action to tackle climate breakdown.
The local march will be one of many happening across the UK, all led by health workers who are using their voices to call for drastic action based on climate science, to safeguard human health.
One of the local organisers Dr Alex Armitage, consultant paediatrician at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, said it was part of his professional duty to do everything in his power to raise the alarm and push for action.
“If we don’t take action now on climate breakdown, I fear that children that I see in clinic will face unimaginable horrors in their lifetimes,” he said.
Health workers are concerned as research shows that rising temperatures and extreme weather events will put food security at risk for billions of people, raising the possibility of mass starvation across huge swathes of the planet.
Despite being a wealthy country the UK is also vulnerable as it currently imports most of its food, Dr Armitage said.
In the medium term, melting ice caps will cause sea level rises this century, leaving low-lying areas uninhabitable and some farmland unviable, resulting in the need for mass migration.
In Shetland, it is said that could potentially mean the disappearance of St. Ninian’s tombolo, Scatness and Sumburgh becoming new islands and leaving significant amounts of Shetland’s infrastructure, including Lerwick and Scalloway harbour facilities and Sumburgh Airport, underwater.
Around the world, many people living in low-lying areas could be forced to migrate.
Levenwick GP Dr Deepa Shah added: “Action on climate change through decarbonisation of our lifestyles will not only improve the health of our planet but will also lead to significantly better mental and physical health for my patients.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
“This will come about through healthier diets, more active travel, better insulated homes and a corresponding reduction in fuel poverty.
“Taking action on climate change means both a sustainable future on this planet for our children and also longer, healthier lives for ourselves”
Participants are asked to gather outside Lerwick Health Centre on Saturday 6 November at 2pm for a march that will take them to the Lerwick Town Hall.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.