Executive Director Dr Nick Watts to step down after 8 years to take up new role as NHS England’s first Chief Sustainability Officer

Statement on behalf of the Lancet Countdown Board

“We are proud to announce that the Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown, Dr Nick Watts, is to be NHS England’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. The appointment demonstrates the growing recognition of the importance of climate change to human health, and is testament to Nick’s commitment and success in driving this agenda forward. Nick has been Chair of NHS England’s Net Zero Expert Panel since the beginning of the year, leading efforts to develop the organisation’s response to climate change.

“He will take up his new post in October and will be replaced as the Lancet Countdown’s Executive Director on an interim basis by Dr Ian Hamilton, an Associate Professor in Energy Epidemiology at the UCL Energy Institute, and a long-term senior member of the Lancet Countdown team.

“Nick has led the Lancet Countdown from day one, building it into a globally recognised research collaboration that brings together more than 35 institutions worldwide to track the health impacts of climate change and hold nations around the world to account. While we are sad to see Nick moving on, he leaves behind an incredible legacy, and a global team stronger than ever before that is equipped to expand and evolve the collaboration in exciting new directions.

“We would like to welcome Ian, who brings a wealth of academic experience, and look forward to working with him in his new role.”

ENDS