Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record.
Antimicrobial Resistance, Climate, Environment, Human and Animal Health
Will Gaze’s presentation focused on the intersection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change, highlighting the global health challenge posed by AMR and its connection to environmental factors. Here are the key points:
- Global Health Challenge: Will emphasized the severity of AMR, noting that it’s a significant global health issue with a rising number of deaths attributed to resistant infections. He referenced a study estimating 5 million deaths annually related to AMR, underscoring the urgency of addressing this problem.
- One Health Approach: He discussed the ‘One Health’ concept, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to tackle AMR. This approach is crucial because most antibiotics are used in livestock (in the UK it’s 30% of all antibiotic use is in livestock), and antibiotic residues, along with resistant bacteria, end up in the environment through human and animal waste.
- Environmental Impact: Will highlighted how environmental factors, such as temperature and heavy rainfall, can influence the spread of AMR. For instance, higher local temperatures have been linked to increased numbers of resistant infections. Flooding and low flow conditions in water bodies can also exacerbate the spread of resistant bacteria by affecting sewage discharge and pollutant concentrations.
- Climate Change Connection: The presentation explored how climate change could further complicate the AMR challenge. Climate-driven changes in microbial diversity, the spread of resistant genes, and the impact of antibiotics on soil and water ecosystems were discussed as potential areas of concern. Will pointed out that climate change might lead to increased use of antimicrobials, thereby worsening the AMR situation.
- Research and Initiatives: Will mentioned ongoing research at the University of Exeter, including a €10 million Horizon Europe grant project focused on environmental pathogens and AMR in coastal waters. He also introduced a new interdisciplinary network, CLIMA, aimed at evaluating climate change impacts on AMR, highlighting the collaborative efforts to address this complex issue.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: The presentation underscored the need for an interdisciplinary approach to tackle AMR, integrating insights from microbiology, environmental science, and public health. Will stressed the importance of understanding the environmental reservoirs of resistance and the role of climate change in shaping AMR dynamics.
Sara asked Will about the practical steps that the group could take locally to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), questioning the connectivity across health, agriculture, and environmental sectors, and whether there’s more they could do to integrate efforts. Will responded by emphasizing the importance of understanding AMR’s fundamental drivers and preventing resistance. He suggested public engagement through guidance on swimming after rainfall, consumer choices regarding product origins, and the use of antimicrobials in everyday products. Will highlighted the potential for individual and organizational actions to mitigate AMR and suggested that the group’s interdisciplinary nature could facilitate communication on how climate change impacts health, including AMR.
Steve inquired about the potential need for reviewing environmental standards for microbial content in sewage and its connection to climate change. He mentioned that the Environment Agency’s standards are based on national policies and wondered if the evidence presented by Will could lead to a reassessment of these standards for better protecting human health. Will clarified that his research has been supported through knowledge exchange with the Environment Agency and highlighted ongoing collaborations, including a significant project called PATHSAFE, which focuses on environmental surveillance for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. He also mentioned that antibiotics are on the hazardous compound watchlist of the Water Framework Directive, indicating a growing recognition of the issue at policy levels.
Doug suggested reviewing the group’s risk register to potentially elevate the risk associated with AMR based on the insights shared by Will. Will agreed, highlighting AMR’s placement at the top of the national risk register and its comparison to climate change and global terrorism by previous health officials, emphasizing the importance of addressing it.
Richard mentioned the recent issuance of the government’s chronic risk assessment, which includes a section on AMR. He highlighted that this document, produced by the Cabinet Office and the Government Office for Science, is being reviewed by local resilience forums for its implications on planning. Richard also noted the document’s current ‘official sensitive’ status.
ACTION: Emily to add a brief agenda item to next meeting to review the risks in the register associated with AMR.
Feedback for Proposals of an In-Person Meeting
Key points from the discussion included:
- Purpose and Focus: George questioned if focusing solely on catchment management was appropriate, suggesting a broader subject might be more beneficial. Tom supported this by proposing to include coastal issues, emphasizing the importance of addressing natural processes that put infrastructure at risk.
- Frequency and Format: Doug suggested that instead of monthly meetings, a quarterly half-day session might be more effective for deeper discussions on specific themes. Steve expressed that face-to-face meetings should be less frequent than quarterly, emphasizing the need for these meetings to result in actionable outcomes.
- Reinvigoration and Refocusing: The group discussed the need to reinvigorate and refocus the group’s efforts, moving beyond just checking in on a spreadsheet. The idea is to use the face-to-face meeting to build relationships, understand each other’s work better, and plan the next steps for the group.
- Outcome-Oriented: Steve highlighted the importance of having a clear outcome from the meeting, suggesting it should lead to a tangible impact or action plan.
The consensus was that an in-person meeting could be beneficial for revitalizing the group, provided it has a clear purpose, includes broad topics, and results in actionable outcomes.
ACTION: Emily to proceed with planning an in-person meeting using the above principles.
Review of Risks CIG39 – 43
Five risks from the Infrastructure section of the regional Climate Adaptation Strategy were scheduled for review at today’s meeting. [Every risk in the Strategy is scheduled for review once a year].
Risk 41: Risks to health from transmissible diseases:
- Will’s presentation on AMR highlighted the significant health risks posed by climate change, which can exacerbate the spread of transmissible diseases. He emphasized the need for increased awareness and communication about the linkages between climate change, AMR, and public health.
- Sara raised a question about the role of the Peninsula Antimicrobial Resistance Group (PARG) and whether it is well-connected across health, agriculture, and environmental sectors. William responded that PARG is very clinical and public health-focused, suggesting that this group could be a useful forum for broader discussions on climate and health impacts.
Risk 42: Risks to food safety and food security:
- Doug noted that AMR is a significant risk to food safety and security, which was not previously well-linked in their risk assessments. He suggested incorporating this issue into agricultural advice programs to help businesses understand the risks.
- The group acknowledged that the Devon Sustainable Food Partnership could play a role in mitigating this risk.
Risk 43: Risks to health from water quality:
- This risk was discussed in the context of AMR, with Will explaining how antibiotic residues in wastewater can drive resistance and impact water quality. He highlighted the need for better environmental surveillance and regulation to address this issue.
- The group recognized the importance of addressing water quality issues, particularly in light of climate change and its impact on flooding and heavy rainfall, which can exacerbate the spread of resistant bacteria.
Overall, the review emphasized the interconnectedness of climate change, AMR, and public health, with a focus on improving communication, awareness, and regulatory measures to mitigate these risks.
No changes regarding the magnitude and likelihood of the risks were raised by the group.
ACTION: Emily to update the risk register accordingly.
Richard mentioned that the government recently issued a chronic risk assessment, which includes a section on AMR. This document, produced by the Cabinet Office and the Government Office for Science, outlines vulnerabilities and potential mitigations related to AMR. Richard noted that this assessment could inform their planning and risk assessments.
ACTION: Richard to share information about national conversations regarding AMR.
Review of Actions
Two actions in the Action Plan (Appendix 6 of the Strategy) were reviewed at this meeting. Ahead of the meeting, Emily circulated a table that has collated local activity that is helping to implement each action. Comments on this were requested.
BIAA–3 – Develop and expand the Climate Emergency / Readiness Action group – (Steering group formed from business, public sector, and academia) to take the lead on more projects within the region (e.g. Climate Ready Clyde).
The Group discussed that this action could would be implemented by holding the in-person meeting to identify how we can collaborate better.
BIAB–4 – Put in place a severe weather plan and resilience measures to ensure business continuity, sign up for alerts and check insurances for coverage on flooding / severe weather events.
The Group noted that this action is aimed at encouraging businesses and individuals to sign up for alerts and check their insurance levels. Tom mentioned that this action might have originated from a previous conversation about involving bodies like the Southwest Business Council to promote awareness among businesses about the importance of signing up for flood warning services and other resilience measures. He suggested that businesses should be made aware that these services are not just for residential properties but also for commercial. Steve added that the role of this group could be to highlight where to engage with other organisations, such as local enterprise partnerships for the economy, local nature partnerships for nature, and the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) for first responders and utilities. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that this group does not duplicate the efforts of other groups but rather supports and influences them. The discussion concluded with the recognition that the group should focus on influencing other organisations and ensuring that climate impacts are considered in all aspects of their work.
George suggested developing actions that are specific to this Group, which could come out of the in-person meeting.
Messages to Feedback to Climate Partnerships
The group agreed to feedback to the climate partnerships that the group has completed its initial task of creating the adaptation strategy and risk register. There is now a need to reinvigorate the Climate Impacts Group. This includes organising a face-to-face meeting to refocus the group’s efforts and define the next steps.
