TWENTY-SIX Herefordshire family doctors have signed a letter to the Hereford Times expressing their dismay at politicians' response to what they describe as "looming environmental disaster.

Although they say they will not be taking part in protest strikes being held today and next week, they support those taking action and encourage others to join them.

In their letter the doctors say that as caring professionals they oppose policies that push the world towards "environmental catastrophe".

"We are particularly alarmed by the risk of damage to physical and mental health on an unprecedented scale."

They add: "Our unchecked consumption, dependence on fossil fuels and decimation of ecosystems continue. The diagnosis is clear and the treatment urgent. Yet politicians prevaricate and global emissions still rise."

The doctors' letter in full:

Dear Editor

We, the undersigned, are all family doctors of Herefordshire, and we are united by our distress at the lack of response to looming environmental disaster.

On Friday 20th and Friday 27th September, millions of people across the world, including many in Herefordshire, will walk out of their workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels and climate justice for all.

As health care workers we are not taking an active part in the climate strikes but we stand in solidarity with those who are taking this action, and encourage all those who are able to join this action themselves.

As caring professionals we oppose current policies that push the world’s most vulnerable towards environmental catastrophe. We are particularly alarmed by the risk of damage to physical and mental health on an unprecedented scale.

Present policies and responses are woefully inadequate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that we have only 11 years to halve global emissions to meet their 1.5C target, yet last year our global emissions rose yet again. It will be a massive task to avoid catastrophic warming and we need radical action now. Our unchecked consumption, dependence on fossil fuels and decimation of ecosystems continue. The diagnosis is clear and the treatment urgent. Yet politicians prevaricate and global emissions still rise.

Our Governments are failing to take proper responsibility and currently are pursuing grossly inadequate policies that risk environmental collapse. Non-violent direct action then becomes the reasonable choice for responsible individuals.

We urge government and media to respond immediately and proportionately.

Yours sincerely

Dr Amy Larkins

Dr Andy Watts

Dr Cath Laird

Dr Clare Jones

Dr David Milsom

Dr Debra Corbett

Dr Diana Majeed

Dr Dominic Horne

Dr Erica Sibley

Dr Esther Scotland

Dr Geoff Corbett

Dr George Hobbs

Dr Jeremy Gray

Dr Jessica Powell

Dr Jill Goodfellow

Dr John Stevenson

Dr Laura Handscombe

Dr Mark Turnbull

Dr Mark Waters

Dr Paul Harris

Dr Sarah Newey

Dr Sarah Schofield

Dr Simon Lennane

Dr Sue Clegg

Dr Val Goodger

Dr Verity Wilkins