Environment

The UK Health Security Agency states on its website that “Climate change is a major threat to human health and wellbeing in the UK.” The quality of the local environment is a key factor in the health of the local population. Issues such as air quality, access to the natural environment, and available travel modes are often distributed unequally across the country and have an impact on health.  The potential health issues from a rapidly changing climate are considerable and include: 

Air quality:  The combustion of fossil fuels for transport, heat and electricity release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Degradation of materials, use of chemicals and aerosols release particulates and other gases into the air. Indoor air quality poses health risks as more households open legacy chimneys and install solid fuel stoves in their homes. Indoor air contaminants are evident from the use of scented candles, harsh cleaning products, newly painted surfaces and furniture glues and coatings. These increase the risk of pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and accelerate global warming. 

Flooding: There is a significant impact on mental health from flooding, especially evacuation due to flooding. The cost implications of repair, of future resilience and accessing insurance can be significant. The fear of flooding can have negative impacts on the levels of stress and anxiety in people’s lives. It can increase the demand on services such as emergency services, health care and flood response teams.   

Green spaces and environmental restoration: vegetation and trees create heat sinks in urban areas that reduce the risks of over-heating and flooding. They absorb carbon and act as a barrier to air pollution. Co-benefits include improved mental health, physical activity in accessible open spaces and opportunities for community food growing. Improving the quality of natural environments provides multiple benefits, including community involvement, economic value and promotion of education, health and tourism, while encouraging interconnections between strategic areas. 

Housing standards: Cold homes are associated with respiratory and circulatory problems as well as exacerbating a range of existing health problems and increasing the risk of suffering with mental ill health. Insulating, ventilating, and shading helps reduce wasted heat and prevent overheating in hot weather. 

Transport: Safe and pleasant active travel routes have both physical and mental health benefits. Public transport and ultra-low emission vehicles reduce the amount of combustion engine vehicles on the road, improving air quality. 

Climate Adaptation Resilience: Measures to adapt to climate change present opportunities to improve public health. Decisive action is required to create stronger, more resilient health systems to protect those most at risk of climate change and ensure long-term health and wellbeing for everyone in the country. 

National 

• Climate Change Act: As part of the global effort to tackle climate change, which was agreed as part of the Paris Climate Accord, the UK Government has set a target to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This target is set out in the Climate Change Act 2008 and subsequent updates.  
• The Environment Act 2021 – includes targets on waste recycling and air quality, including for fine particulate matter, the most damaging pollutant to human health. The Act introduces the Biodiversity Net Gain process, which aims to increase the area of protected habitat sites. 
• The 25 Year Environment Plan – this document sets out targets for clean air, clean water, natural habitats, reducing risks from environmental hazards and using resources from nature.  
• Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) – the Climate Change Act 2008 included a requirement for the Government to publish an independent assessment of the risks from climate change on a five yearly basis. The next update to the CCRA is due in 2026.  
• National Adaptation Programme 3 – The Climate Change Act 2008 requires the Government to report on how they plan to adapt to the risks and opportunities posed by climate change. As part of this a National Adaptation Programme has been developed. This is in its third iteration, and a fourth version is due to be published in 2026. 
• Climate Change Committee (CCC) – the CCC provides independent assessment of the UK’s climate plans. They publish regular assessments of both climate mitigation and adaptation actions This report describes their approach to Sustainable Health. 

Local 

• Green Masterplan – This strategy sets out the approach of the Council on dealing with environmental issues and includes the commitment to matching the national goal on net zero carbon emissions. The Masterplan is being replaced with an Environment Policy in 2026. 
• Environment Policy – The County Council has adopted a new Environment Policy in 2026, which will outline the current approach to a range of environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity, water management, circular economy and active travel. 
• Carbon Management Plan 4 – The Council first published a carbon management plan in 2008. Now on its fourth version the Carbon Management Plan sets out how the Council can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a further 25% by 2030. 
• Climate Adaptation Action Plan – In 2024 the Council commissioned a Climate Adaptation Plan, which was produced by Sustainability West Midlands. The document sets out actions for the Council and wider county to adapt to climate change.  
• Greater Lincolnshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy – this document identifies priority habitats and species for nature recovery. The Strategy includes maps that highlight the areas around Lincolnshire that would be most suitable for nature recovery. www.glincslnrs.org.uk/  
• District Council Climate Change Targets & Plans – each district council in Lincolnshire has set targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions and published environmental plans: 

City of Lincoln Council 
South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership 
North Kesteven District Council 
South Kesteven District Council 
West Lindsey District Council 

 The adopted Central Lincolnshire Local Plan has extensive policies on low energy housing, building incorporated renewables and air quality. 

Flooding: During the winter of 2023/24 there was extensive flooding across the county, with almost 1,000 homes flooded during the Storms Babet and Henk. There was further flooding in the first week of 2025. In December 2013 there was a storm surge in the North Sea, which breached some of the sea defences along the coast. Over 200 people had to be evacuated in Boston and the dune system at Gibraltar Point was breached. Predictions for the future are that sea level will continue to rise – with forecasts of rises of between 0.3 and 1.1 metres by 2100. This will place further pressure on aging sea defences. The Met Office forecasts that days of intense rainfall will increase by over a third by the end of the century, which will increase the risk of flooding events. (Source: Met Office 2026) 

High Temperatures: The forecast is that by 2100 the number of days with temperatures above 25 C will more than double. This could result in an increase in heat related deaths, especially in the older population. The UK Health Security Agency  (UKHSA) estimates that there were 2,985 excess deaths during the heatwave events in 2022. (Source: UKHSA, 2025) 

Drought: Agriculture is an important sector within Lincolnshire, with the county producing around one third of the UK’s vegetables. The sector is vulnerable to drought conditions, and the Met Office predictions are that droughts will double by the end of the century. This could have impacts on food availability. (Source: Met Office 2026)  

Increase in vector borne diseases: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that there has been an increase in cases of Lyme Disease, which is caused by bites from infected ticks. The range of ticks in the UK is increasing as the climate warms. In addition, other disease-causing insects, such as mosquitos, are expanding their range into the UK. 

Housing Quality: There is a particular issue with housing quality in the East Lindsey area. This district has a third more than the average number of houses that the lowest ‘F’ and ‘G’ Energy Performance Certificate ratings. Lower quality housing can impact on the health of residents living in the properties.  

Climate Adaptation: The Lincolnshire Adaptation Action Plan was co-created with a broad group of stakeholders and includes significant contributions from health colleagues. There are many health associated actions that will help to address climate related inequality over the next decade. The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Explorer indicates that under the 1.5°C target set under the Paris Agreement, Lincolnshire will experience a maximum summer temperature increase of 2.6°C, and a 4% increase in the rate of winter precipitation. 

Data collection: The Local Climate Impacts Profile for Lincolnshire reviews climate related impacts on the county over recent years. The document is updated regularly and uses local media reports and highways data to record weather related impacts around the county. 

Climate Mitigation Actions: Over the last two decades the Council has been working to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations. As part of this four Carbon Management Plans (CMP) have been developed to identify actions that will reduce emissions. Since the CMP3 baseline year of 2016/17 emissions have been reduced by 54% – this has been achieved through investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy systems and the national change in electricity generation from fossil fuels to renewables. The CMP4 contains actions to reduce emissions by a further 25% by 2030. 

The Council is working with partners across the county to reduce emissions. Through Business Lincolnshire the Council offers advice and support to small businesses on how they can become more sustainable. To encourage household energy efficiency the Council has played a major part in the Greater Lincolnshire Energy Efficiency Network, which works with district councils and third sector groups to direct energy efficiency funding to households. The Solar Together scheme supported households across the county in installing solar panels. Local community groups, such as parish councils, have been supported to reduce emissions through the Zero Carbon Parishes project, which funded small scale environmental projects. 

Climate Adaptation Action Plan: In 2024 a new adaptation action plan was produced for the county. This was produced in partnership with organisations from across Lincolnshire. The report examines the risks from climate change and highlights the most significant risks. The report goes on to outline a series of actions for different sectors to undertake to improve the resilience of the county to climate change. 

Flood Management: The County Council has worked with partners from the Environment Agency and the Internal Drainage Boards to deliver flood alleviation investment projects. The County Council is the lead local flood authority and has a responsibility to conduct investigations into the events around property flooding. The County Council has delivered local upgrades to better protect communities from flooding and has worked with partners on larger projects. 

Transport / Active Travel: The County Council has developed Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plans for all the major settlements in Lincolnshire. These set out priority routes that will have the greatest return for active travel investment. The Active Travel Team manages the local Bikeability scheme, which delivers cycling training to primary age pupils. The Team has a range of projects to engage with schools and is using Active Travel England capital funding to deliver infrastructure upgrades to cycle paths and footpaths.

The Lincolnshire Climate Adaptation Plan included extensive engagement and consultation with local stakeholders – including district councils, NHS, Police, Fire Service, universities, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and local businesses. 

In 2021 Ipsos Mori conducted polling on public views on climate change and health. The survey found that 82% of the UK population was concerned about climate change. The public viewed the following climate issues as a threat to health – flooding (87%), air pollution (84%), heatwaves (82%) and extreme weather (81%). 

Regarding the immediacy of the threat to health from climate change, almost half (48%) think that ‘right now’ climate change threatens UK citizens’ health a great deal or a fair amount. Within five years this rises to 64% percent, to 83% in 20 years and 88% for a 50-year perspective. 

The County Council co-ordinates the Lincolnshire Sustainability Officers’ Group, which has representatives from all of the local authorities in Greater Lincolnshire, the police, universities, colleges and the NHS. The group share best practices and experience on environmental management. 

Air Quality: There are two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) in the county in Boston and Grantham. The AQMA in Lincoln was removed due to improved air quality measurements. These areas tend to have higher levels of traffic related pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. There are also issues around low-level ozone pollution and particulate matter. These pollutants can cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues for residents that have long term exposure to the pollutants. 

Each of the district councils in Lincolnshire has air quality action plans, which identify measures to manage and reduce air pollution. In addition, the County Council has set up the Clean Air Lincolnshire website and has run an air quality monitoring project outside of eight secondary schools. 

Most of the air quality issues are associated with road traffic pollution and industrial pollution. The decline of manufacturing industry and the ongoing switch to electric vehicles should ensure that levels of some pollutants fall in the coming years. However, there are agricultural and natural sources of some pollutants, such as particulate matter.  

Housing Quality: is an issue in many areas of the county. The areas of the county that have high levels of deprivation tend to have poor housing quality. There are higher levels of houses with Energy Performance Certificates with the lowest scoring ‘F’ and ‘G’ ratings in the areas of the county that have high levels of deprivation. Hot spots of housing with energy efficiency issues are in Gainsborough, Boston, Skegness and Mablethorpe. 

There are national programmes to target energy efficiency funding to social housing. The district councils have projects to upgrade social housing, and the Midlands Net Zero Hub distributes funding to Councils. There are similar schemes for social housing that are delivered by energy supply companies. 

Natural Environment: The Woodland Trust’s Space for People (2017) shows only 6.6% of Lincolnshire’s population has access to woodlands over two hectares – considerably less people than the national average (18%). Lincolnshire has a Trees and Woodland Strategy to increase the area of tree cover in the county. This will contribute towards improved air quality, wildlife networks, storing carbon, reduced air pollution, and lessen the urban heat island affect with urban planting.  

Mapping of current provision, including size, and proximity to where people live and work will show how far recommended guidelines are met, and enable development of strategies to develop green space. Utilising Natural England’s toolkit for Accessible Natural Green Space Standards (ANGSt), and the Local Green Space Evidence Report (found in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan) will help identify opportunities to improve accessibility across the county. 

Flooding: Most of Lincolnshire is at or below sea level and there are 16,450 properties in Lincolnshire at high, long-term risk of flooding as well as a large proportion of farmland. Demographics of the county, and the number of vulnerable groups located in coastal areas, means flood defences and flood amelioration should be a priority for adapting to future risks to lives, property, homes and businesses. 

Transport/Active Travel: The county has a limited number of segregated cycle paths. There is reasonable coverage in urban areas, but often the routes do not link up. In rural areas the cycle paths tend to be non-existent or follow the route of former railway lines. 

Evidence from temperature monitoring stations around the globe has shown that temperatures have continued to rise and are now around 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. This is leading to impacts on global natural systems and has associated health impacts. Health impacts have become apparent in Lincolnshire with impacts from flooding and extreme heat. 

The Environmental Strategy Team is working closely with Public Health on a series of projects which cover air quality, access to green space, energy efficiency and active travel. There are further opportunities to look at sharing data on environmental factors and public health.