You Mean the World explores the past, present and future of nursing in the face of the climate crisis.
The climate emergency is a global health crisis, and nursing staff are on the frontline. They see its impact firsthand – from diseases linked to air pollution to the damaging effects of extreme heat.
The World Health Organization estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause 250,000 additional deaths per year. Our health is inseparable from the health of the planet.
As the largest part of the health and care workforce, it is crucial that nursing becomes more sustainable. The NHS has committed to being carbon neutral by 2045 but there is a long way to go.
The position of trust nursing staff hold in their communities mean they can be essential voices in the fight against climate change.
This exhibition shows how talented nursing teams are working to achieve these climate goals – from green social prescribing to developing sustainable nursing tools, from raising public awareness to showing how small changes can make a big difference to our future.
The air we breathe
The climate emergency affects us all, but some are affected more than others. In the UK, it has a greater impact on the very young and elderly, and on more deprived urban communities.
Nursing staff have long been aware of the unequal impact of unhealthy environments. In 1859, Florence Nightingale observed the shocking 90% mortality rate of patients in London hospitals compared to much lower figures in country towns.