A LARGE group of local health professionals and other climate campaigners held a moving ‘climate inquest’ in central Truro on Saturday.
The performance took place five days after the world's hottest day on record and aimed to highlight “the deaths and suffering caused by the climate emergency in the UK and across the world”, and to emphasise how this is being driven by fossil fuel companies, banks and political decisions.
Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists took part, accompanied by members of a South West climate choir. They tended to a group of “fallen”, shrouded patients and laid flowers.
This was followed by a mock inquest where health professionals gave testimony to a “coroner”, explaining the cause of each death and how the climate and ecological emergency had contributed to these.
They then laid headstones showing how many people have died annually from each cause: the 40,000 UK and six-million global deaths from air pollution, a further 40,000 from extreme heat, as well as illness and deaths from floods, mosquito-borne diseases, drought and famine (with sources supplied).
They claimed malnutrition in the UK is increasing as flood and droughts cause crop failure, leading to rising food prices; highlighted the health harms of sewage discharges into our seas and rivers; and explained how the burning of fossil fuels is driving global heating and extreme weather events.
The final speaker reminded the audience of the science underpinning the climate emergency. They explained how, while we cannot reverse the damage already done, there is a small window of opportunity to prevent the worst of the crisis, with urgent investment in renewable energy, insulation and restoring nature.
The performance ended with a minute’s silence for all those who had died, calls for action and further singing from the choir.
Community psychologist Annie Mitchell said: “As a mental health nurse in Cornwall, I see the impact of the climate emergency on a daily basis.
“Patients, especially young people, have rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression as they face uncertainty and loss in a world which continues to heat. Climate anxiety can be overwhelming, and when combined with fears about housing and the cost of living, can lead to hopelessness and even suicide.
“People need hope for themselves and for their children and that is why I am here with my health colleagues, calling for urgent action by the government and fossil fuel companies, while there is still time.”
Lorraine Furneaux, a specialist mental health nurse and therapist, added: “I hope our message today – that health is being catastrophically affected in the UK and globally - will be heard by local citizens, politicians and businesses. We must all play a role in building a safe and life giving future for our children – that means being content with less, reducing demand on our life support system, our planet.”