Human health is implicitly linked with our environment.
The climate and environmental crises are a health emergency. Women and those who already experience disadvantage will be disproportionately affected.
Medical professionals need to understand these impacts so we can help the women and people we care for minimise their risks.
Climate and health
Start your journey with this three-part RCOG Learning course. Explore the impact of climate change on health, the contribution of the healthcare sector to the climate emergency and what we can do about it.
Environmental drivers and women's health
FIGO issues practical guidance on environmental pollutants and women's health.
Did you know?
- Air pollution is responsible for 30,000 excess deaths worldwide each year.
- Extreme heat in pregnancy doubles the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm birth.
- 80% of those displaced by climate change are women.
- The global healthcare sector has a higher carbon footprint than the aviation industry.
Build your knowledge with the resources below.
Climate and health
Watch A summary of the 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change or read the full report.
Learn Complete the RCOG’s three-part eLearning collection climate and health.
Read Women's health, the climate crisis and the pathway to a net-zero health system.
Kumar A, Hunt K, Nair M, Clack A.
TOG, Vol 26, No 3, July 2024.
Watch A lecture by Professor Jane Hirst on Protecting pregnant women and babies from extreme heat in a warming planet.
Read An expert review of environmental heat exposure and stillbirth in the face of climate change: Clinical implications and priority issues.
Bonell A, Part C, Okomo U, et al.
BJOG, Vol 131, No 5, April 2024
Read Natural disasters resulting from climate change: The impact of hurricanes and flooding on perinatal outcomes.
Suter MA, Aagaard KM.
Seminars in Perinatology, Vol. 47, No. 8, Dec 2023
Read Wildfire exposure during pregnancy and the risk of adverse birth outcomes: A systematic review.
Amjad S, Chojecki D, Osornio-Vargas A, Ospina B.
Environment International, Vol 156, Nov 2021
Read Colliding Crises: How the climate crisis fuels gender-based violence
Read A short article from the UN on how women face disproportionate impacts from climate change and why women are key to climate action
Watch the story of the amazing feminist advocates who work to demand global climate justice. Feminist Global Advocacy for Climate Justice.
Watch Connecting Climate Minds. Lived experience accounts from those directly impacted by the interrelated challenges of climate change and mental health.
Watch this TED Talk from psychologist Renée Lertzman on how to turn climate anxiety into action.
If you, or someone you know, needs support with climate anxiety Unthinkable have a wide collection of free resources and can signpost to support groups and climate-aware therapists.
Environmental pollutants
Read FIGOs two-part series documenting the wide-ranging effects of environmental drivers on reproductive health, and how we can help women modify their risk.
FIGO committee opinion: Environmental drivers of obstetric health and early childhood development
DeNicola N, Lasher E, BakenRa A, et al.
International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Vol 171, No 3, December 2025
FIGO committee opinion: Environmental drivers of gynaecologic and reproductive health
DeNicola N, Zhang J, Annette Hasenburg A, et al.
International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Vol 171, No 3, December 2025
Watch Malcom White of Global Action Plan on Enhancing Patient Care through Air Quality Awareness in Maternal and Child Care
Read Two landmark reports on the impacts of air pollution on health.
A breath of fresh air: responding to the health challenges of modern air pollution. The Royal College of Physician’s report highlights new evidence showing links between air pollution and harm to almost every organ in the body. Effects are documented across a lifetime, starting in pregnancy.
The Black Child Clean Air Report explores the attitudes, behaviours and experiences of Black pregnant women and mothers regarding air pollution.
Learn Free eLearning resources for healthcare professionals from the Clean Air Academy.
Read Exposure to drinking water pollutants and non-syndromic birth defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis synthesis
Jauniaux E, Jeremiah L, Richardson B, Rogozińska E.
BMJ Open. Vol 14, No 11, November 2024
Read Quality Unknown: The invisible water crisis. A thorough report from the World Bank Group on the state of global water quality.
Listen A BBC Rare Earth episode on the health impacts of forever chemicals. BBC Radio 4 - Rare Earth, Forever Chemicals.
Read This briefing from the CHEM Trust on how women are disproportionately exposed to harmful chemicals. Chemical-pollution: a women’s perspective.
Read Exposure to microplastics and human reproductive outcomes: A systematic review
Hunt K, Davies A, Fraser A, Burden C, et al.
BJOG, Vol 131, No 5, January 2024
Watch The Impact of Plastic on Human Health this short video talks describes some of the common household sources of microplastic pollution and how to reduce your risk.
Sustainable healthcare
Learn Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Free eLearning from NHS England.
Read The Principles of Sustainable Healthcare from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH).
Listen to this podcast from CHA Learning and Dr Mahmood Bhutta. Why We Must Rethink Healthcare’s “Throwaway Culture”.
Read the RCOG’s Green Maternity Report defining our approach to safer, fairer and kinder maternity care for women, the planet and future generations.
Watch Videos from the Green Maternity Challenge teams. Find out how groups throughout the UK are improving care while cutting carbon.
Watch This comparison of the carbon footprint of different modes of birth in the UK and Netherlands.
Read The Green Surgery Report from the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC), Brighton & Sussex Medical School and the CSH.
Read The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and explore their resources.
Watch the CSH Women’s Health Network recording on sustainability in gynaecology operating.
Read UKHACC’s policy report Building a Climate-Resilient Health System in the UK.
Watch the launch of the Belem Health Action Plan at COP 30 in Brazil, read the full special report and explore the Belém Health Action Library.
Read the UK Health Security Agency’s 4th Health and climate adaptation report and climate adaptation resources or Wales’s Health and social care climate adaptation toolkit.
For Global members the WHO have information on climate resilient health systems available through their Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) programme.
Policy
Read the RCOG’s demands for the UK government on climate change and air pollution.
Policy position: Climate change and women’s health
Policy position: Outdoor air pollution and pregnancy
Read this blog from Professor Ranee Thakar on what does COP30 mean for women’s health.
The RCOG are proud members of the UK health Alliance on Climate Change - find out more about their policy work.
These resources define UK net zero strategy across the devolved nations.
NHS England Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service and Five years of a greener NHS: progress and forward look.
Green plan guidance to help NHS organisations develop robust plans to support world-leading patient care, save money and minimise waste.
NHS Wales Decarbonisation strategic delivery plan
NHS Scotland Climate emergency and sustainability strategy