WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine was among those representing the UK at the G7 summit in Milan.

The G7 is a group made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, representing the seven largest advanced economies in the world.

The countries brought together health minsters for an agenda which covered climate variability and its impact on human health. Mr Brine – who led the UK delegation of officials from the Department of Health, Public Health England and the British Embassy – told the meeting that the UK was committed to the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

He spoke about action the UK government is taking to tackle air pollution which he said was responsible for 40,000 early deaths each year and remains the largest environmental risk to public health, with cardiovascular disease a major impact.

He also addressed fellow ministers on women in the developing word having access to the same family planning and sexual health services enjoyed in the UK and said it was time to focus on the issue of perinatal health and the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.

Speaking at the end of summit, Mr Brine said: “We are all here because we care about health. This comes with a recognition that we cannot seek to improve health just on our own shores because diseases and infections do not respect borders so we must work together to achieve real results. The issues we have spoken about— anti-microbial resistance, climate variability, women’s and adolescents’ health—all underpin our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Sustainable Development and health are intrinsically linked and I look forward to working ever closer with G7 partners.”