A Manchester doctor is calling on health organisations to stop investing in fossil fuels ahead of an international day of action, which will include demonstrations in the city.
Dr Ruth Wiggans made the comments earlier this week after a new report, titled Unhealthy Investments, was released by a collection of UK healthcare charities and other non-governmental organisations.
The report points to evidence that suggests 5% of all deaths can be attributed to man-made pollution in the air.
“It is unacceptable that, in Greater Manchester alone, nearly 1,300 people die early every year because of air pollution and far more across the UK,” she told MM.
“Cleaning up our air and moving towards a society which runs on clean energy rather than fossil fuels should be a top policy priority.
“I think this report makes clear the health sector’s responsibility to divest from the fossil fuel industry, and help lead that transition.”
Global Divestment Day will take place on Friday February 13th – a day of action calling to reduce investment in fossil fuels which will include events in Manchester and Stockport.
The student group Fossil Free University of Manchester are organising an event for the day via Facebook and Twitter, as well as supporting a petition for the cause.
Meanwhile in Stockport, the Moving our money away from fossil fuels talk will take place in The Tapestry at St Agnes Church, with the aim to provide information and raise donations.
This is not be the first time that the healthcare community has attempted to lead the way in change.
Professor Martin McKee, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, wrote in the report: “The UK health profession led the way in the tobacco divestment movement two decades ago, putting the issue firmly on the political agenda, strengthening public understanding of the risks, and paving the way for stronger anti-tobacco legislation.”
“This report shows why, in 2015, fossil fuels can no longer be considered an ethical investment.
“This is one of the defining challenges of our time.”
Image courtesy of Senor Codo, with thanks.