This report is part of the Lancet Countdown in Europe, which is an on-going effort to assess the health impacts of climate change in Europe to reinvigorate social and political will for urgent climate mitigation and adaptation actions. The initial report, in 2022, tracked 33 indicators across five domains. This report tracks 42 indicators related to the impacts of climate change to human health, the response of European countries and the opportunities to better health and climate action attuned to health issues. It finds that whilst scientific and the corporate sector are increasingly engaging with these issues, the media, the political sector and individuals have low levels of engagement with the interplay between health and climate change in Europe. The report notes that significant political and public support is needed to stimulate further action

There has been a lot of discussion about the health and environmental benefits and risks of animal-source foods (which include meat, fish, eggs and dairy). This paper examined the current evidence on these benefits and risks, finding that these impacts vary massively depending on local context and population development.

In this podcast by the Sustainable Food Trust, Prof Tim Spector (of Kings College, London and the nutrition analysis company ZOE) talks about the influence of the microbiome on both human and livestock health.

This randomised controlled trial of 47 patients experiencing depression found that taking a multi-strain probiotic supplement for a month experienced reduced depressive symptoms compared to patients taking a placebo. All participants continued to receive their usual treatment as well. The authors say the study shows the importance of the connections between the microbiome, gut and brain.

In April 2022, 7.3 million adults in the UK either had smaller meals or skipped meals, did not eat despite being hungry, or did not eat for a whole day because they could not afford or access food, according to new data from The Food Foundation. The number of people affected is higher than in January 2022, with The Food Foundation attributing the rise in food insecurity to rising food prices as well as higher energy bills, petrol prices and inflation (7% as of March 2022).

This paper examines the impacts of methane on climate, ecosystems and air pollution. It argues that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change limits its regulation of methane to the climate impacts of methane on a 100-year timeframe, ignoring both near-term climate impacts and wider impacts.

This paper reviews current knowledge on the health consequences of ingested micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). Studies have shown that MNPs can be ingested through seafood, sea salt, drinking water, possibly fruit, vegetables and rice, and even airborne particles. One estimate suggests that each person consumes an average of 5 grams of plastic in the form of MNPs each week, although other studies suggest only a fraction of ingested plastic is actually absorbed into the body.

This policy insight from the UK’s Food Research Collaboration argues that the 2021 Independent Review for the National Food Strategy failed to address the specific nutritional needs of babies and young children. The report identifies eight policy recommendations, including supporting women who wish to breastfeed, regulating the composition, labelling and marketing of foods aimed at young children, and reforming the Healthy Start scheme.

This book argues that glyphosate, the most commonly used weedkiller in the world, disrupts the gut microbiome and is linked to chronic diseases in humans as well as to soil degeneration and harm to wildlife.