The effects of climate change are beginning to be felt and will impact on our lives and those of our children and children’s children. As clinicians and healthcare professionals, we believe that we have a duty to do as much as we can to lower and curtail the tide of climate change.
The RCOG supports environmental policies to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency in the NHS. The RCOG believes that the commitment to countering climate change can lead to significant improvements in public health. These webpages provide information on the College’s views on a sustainable future for our health services.
23 Sept 11: RCOG Green Day. Find out what your carbon footprint is and discover what the College is doing to be green and what we recycle.
12 Mar 10: Attendees at the conference and healthcare professionals are all invited to show their support to sustainable development and practice by signing up to a set of six conference pledges. For more information about these pledge click here. The deadline for receipt of pledges is Friday 9 April 2010.
Click here to view a joint letter between RCOG/RCM/RCN//RCP/RCPCH/FPH in the Guardian on the need for healthcare professionals to act on climate change.
9 Dec 09: Click here for the appeal from the RCOG President.
1 Dec 09: Click here for the RCOG statement on climate change and women’s health.
RCOG activities
The RCOG supports the work of the Climate and Health Council , which seeks to raise awareness about global warning and the need for healthcare professionals to act on climate change. RCOG members are encouraged to sign up to the Council’s Declaration (pdf) and their online pledge.
The RCOG has a staff committee which examines the College’s approach to climate change and resource-saving initiatives. The Green Group has developed a ten-point Charter to ensure that staff subscribe to actions internally to tackle climate change. For more information please contact Naomi Weston on nweston@rcog.org.uk.
Resources
2 Mar 10: The Women's Environmental Network release the report 'Gender and the Climate Change Agenda'. To view, click here.
7 – 18 Dec 09: United Nations Climate Change conference (Copenhagen). To view, click here.
25 Nov 09: The Lancet themed issue ‘Health and Climate Change’. To view, click here.
18 Nov 09: UNFPA 'State of World Population 2009. Facing a changing world: women, population and climate'. To view the report, click here . To view the press release click here.
Jun 09: Faculty of Public Health / NHS Sustainable Development Unit / NHS Confederation report 'Sustaining a Healthy Future. Taking Action on Climate Change'. To view, click here.
13 May 09: UCL / Lancet Commission report 'Managing the Health Effects of Climate Change' on the impact of climate change on global health and well-being.
29 May 08: NHS England Carbon Footprinting Report on all NHS England Estates and activities.
12 Feb 08: Update of the Department of Health / Health Protection Agency report 'Health effects of climate change in the UK 2008'.
2006: UN Food and Agricultural Organization 'Gender: The Missing Component of the Response to Climate Change'. To view, click here.
2006: UN Food and Agricultural Organization 'Energy and Gender Issues in Rural Sustainable Development'. To view, click here.
Nov 04: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Postnote no 232 'UK health impacts of climate change'. To view, click here.
Organisational links
- World Health Organization (WHO) portal on Climate Change and Human Health.
- NHS Sustainable Development Unit web portal.
- NHS Sustainable Development Commission Good Corporate Citizen Assessment Test.
- The Carbon Trust provides information to NHS Trusts to help lower their energy consumption and carbon emmissions.
- The Campaign for Greener Healthcare web portal.
- Medical Action for Global Security (Medact) web portal.
- UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) & the Global Gender and Climate Alliance web portal.
- UN Development Programme Resource Guide 'Gender and Climate Change'.
- UN Women Watch Fact Sheet 'Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change'.
- Centre for Global Change and Health. WHO Collaborating Centre webpages.
- Population Action International webpages on population and climate change.