Warning labels have been stuck to petrol pumps all over Nottingham as part of a national campaign led by Doctors for Extinction Rebellion, calling for greater transparency about the damage to health caused by fossil fuels.
Graphic images on the labels imitate existing cigarette packet health warnings; the government’s “Stay Alert” coronavirus banners; and the wartime “Your country needs you” posters, with David Attenborough’s face replacing that of Lord Kitchener.
The stickers have been spotted at Asda petrol stations in Arnold and Hyson Green, Texaco on Beechdale Road, Sainsbury’s at Castle Marina and Beeston and are continuing to appear in quite a few other places around the city and beyond.
The purpose of the action is to convey a clear and overdue health warning without disruption or confrontation. Nottingham is one of six cities in the UK with illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that exceed the EU limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air.
Consultant Paediatrician at Kings Mill Hospital, Dr Helena Clements said: “As a paediatrician it upsets me immensely that not only is child lung growth stunted through air pollution but our children’s future home is being ruined by fossil fuel driven climate change. I would call on all health professionals, parents and young people to ensure this message gets out. Fossil Fuels are dangerous.”
Co-Founder of the Doctors for Extinction Rebellion group Dr Chris Newman, a GP in Tottenham said: “It is our duty as health professionals to warn the public that continued fossil fuel use is wrecking our life support systems. We no longer have time to ask for permission. As a group, we will continue to do what the science and our duty of care asks of us, and we urge our government to do the same. And if they won’t, you can be sure the people will.”
This builds on growing calls for health warning labels on petrol pumps from notable public health academics, such as Professor Sir Andy Haines, Professor Kristie Ebi and Mike Gill, who wrote in their recent British Medical Journal article; “There is an opportunity for national and local governments to implement labelling of fossil fuels in the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow, and in particular for the UK Government, as the host of the COP, to show leadership, as part of a package of measures to accelerate progress on getting to ‘Net Zero’ emissions.”
These warning labels won’t be the first attached to fuel pumps. After years of campaigning by the Swedish Association of Green Motorists, the first “Eco-labels” were put on Swedish fuel pumps on July 6th this year. Cambridge, Massachusetts also unanimously passed a law on January 13th 2020 requiring public safety warnings at fuel pumps.
Recently a petition has been published on the government petition’s page calling for similar official warnings in the UK. Concerned citizens are asked to sign it here.
Doctors and Nurses from all over the country have expressed their concerns:
Consultant child psychiatrist and Relief Worker, Dr. Lynne Jones OBE said:
“There is growing evidence that air pollution is associated with learning difficulties in children, and may affect the baby in the womb, increasing the risk of autism. Fossil fuels are damaging our children’s brains before they’re even born, and we have to do something about it.”
