Healthcare sustainability and climate change form part of the RCP’s work on public health and prevention, one of our three campaigning pillars.
Climate change is the greatest long-term threat to health globally. It is already increasing the risks posed by extreme heat and other climate-related hazards, placing additional pressure on patients, healthcare professionals and health services.
The NHS also has an important role to play in reducing emissions. NHS England is responsible for around 40% of public sector emissions and 4% of England’s total carbon footprint. It has committed to reaching net zero for the emissions it controls directly by 2040.
How the RCP is making a difference
The RCP is campaigning for ambitious action to reduce emissions, protect population health and build climate-resilient healthcare services. We are also supporting physicians to deliver more sustainable care and manage the health risks associated with climate change.
We are calling on the government to:
- prioritise a just transition away from fossil fuels, redirecting funding and subsidies towards renewable energy sources and technologies
- ensure that the transition to net zero does not exacerbate health inequalities
- put prevention at the heart of health and wider government policy
- recognise the environmental, health and economic benefits of reducing avoidable ill health and demand for healthcare.
We are calling on the NHS to:
- provide appropriate funding, including capital investment where necessary, for initiatives that reduce the environmental impact of healthcare
- recognise and make use of the link between climate action and improved health outcomes
- embed climate considerations within national, regional and local work to reduce health inequalities
- include the NHS net zero targets in the NHS Constitution for England.
Supporting physicians to deliver sustainable care
Physicians have an important role in improving the sustainability of healthcare, from redesigning clinical pathways and reducing unnecessary activity to using resources more effectively. The RCP’s Green physician toolkit provides practical actions that physicians can take to reduce the environmental impact of clinical care. It also includes advice on managing climate-related health risks and supporting wider change within healthcare organisations.
Green physician toolkit
Working in partnership
As a founding member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, the RCP has been vocal about the health impacts of climate change. UKHACC seeks to empower the health profession to advocate for better responses to climate change, to engage decision makers to strengthen relevant policies and to raise awareness of the links between health and climate change.
Improving the RCP’s own sustainability
Alongside our policy and campaigning work, the RCP is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our own operations. We assess our progress against the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change commitments, which provide a framework to help health organisations mitigate and adapt to climate change. We have committed to reporting on our progress annually.
