The 2008/2009 UCL IGH Symposia began with 'A new global public health movement? Managing the health effects of climate change' on 24th November 2008. The speakers; Professors Mark Maslin (UCL Environment Institute), Hugh Montgomery (UCL Institute for Human Health and Performance), Joanne Scott (UCL Laws) and Richard Bellamy (UCL Political Science), highlighted climate change as potentially the biggest global health threat of the 21st century, and emphasised how important it is to consider how to manage the health effects of climate change. Speakers, panellists and the audience then debated whether a new advocacy and public health movement is needed, which brings together governments, international agencies, NGOs, communities and academics from all disciplines. UCL is working with the Lancet to call for this global-advocacy programme, and will be launching its commission 'Managing the Health Effects of Climate Change' in early 2009.