Acknowledging the findings of The Lancet that climate change could
pose the “biggest global health threat of the 21st century”, four
key medical bodies have signed up to the
10:10 campaign, which helps
organisations and individuals reduce their carbon emissions by 10%.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych),
Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the Royal College of
Nursing (RCN), and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), have all
joined 10:10, mindful of the threat posed by climate change –
significantly in terms of patient’s physical health and mental
wellbeing.
As a result, tens of thousands of GPs and thousands of
psychiatrists nationwide, GOSH’s 3,200 staff, and the RCN – the
staff of which act for hundreds of thousands of nurses – will be
encouraged to increase energy efficiency to reduce carbon
emissions.
Professor Dinesh Bhugra, president of the
Royal College of Psychiatrists which represents 13,000
psychiatrists in the UK, highlighted the indisputable
benefits of a low-carbon lifestyle to mental health.
“Research shows a low-carbon lifestyle can improve mental health –
which is why the RCPsych is proud to be playing its part in the
10:10 campaign,” he said. “People who engage in
active, low-carbon activities, such as walking or cycling more
often, are not only cutting emissions but keeping their bodies and
minds healthy. For mild depression, physical activity can be as
good as antidepressants or psychological treatments such as
cognitive behavioural therapy."
Professor Bhugra added: “Working together to
tackle climate change could even help prevent harm to people’s
mental health at an international level. Climate change as a result
of global warming is likely to trigger increased flooding and
greater risk of natural disasters across the world. As we have seen
with the recent floods in Pakistan, these sorts of disasters can
lead to destitution and poverty, which are associated with mental
illness. Over the coming months, staff at the RCPsych will be
working hard to cut our air and taxi travel, reduce our fuel
consumption and make our eight offices across the UK more
energy-efficient.”
Aware of the potential impact of emissions on
children's health globally, Dr Jane Collins, chief executive
of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: "I passionately believe
that climate change is a serious threat to children's health,
particularly in the poorer parts of the world.”
Referring to current redevelopment at the
world-famous children’s hospital, she added: “We hope GOSH's
redevelopment will be as green as is practical for a
city centre hospital. We have already started to audit
and reduce our impact on the climate, but our commitment to
10:10 shows our determination to do more."
Speaking on behalf of the RCGP – a network of
more than 40,000 family doctors – sustainability lead Dr Tim
Ballard said: "Climate change has rightly been identified as posing
a significant risk to human health, and the RCGP is committed to
promoting sustainable practice throughout primary care.
"We recently hosted our first-ever
sustainability-themed annual conference, where the challenges
facing not only GPs, but all healthcare professionals, and the
public at large were discussed at length. This is too big an issue
to ignore."
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general
secretary of the RCN, which has 400,000 members nationwide, said
his organisation had a duty to “lead the way” when it comes to
energy efficiency. He said: “Better health is at the heart of the
RCN’s work and it’s a natural fit for us to sign up to committing
to reduce emissions. With temperature extremes, storms and flooding
threatening health, organisations like ours need to do all they can
to lead the way. We’ve already made a significant start in looking
at our building management functions and in waste disposal, but in
signing up to 10:10 we are now committing to go much further.”
10:10’s health strand is coordinated by Tim
Nicholson of the Campaign for Greener Healthcare.
10:10 UK campaign director Eugenie Harvey
said: “I’m thrilled that these four key health organisations have
committed to reducing their emissions, having all acknowledged the
significant threat to human health posed by climate change.”
“By adopting 10:10 these bodies will not just
be cutting their emissions –they’ll be saving money too. At a time
of cuts, this will enable hospitals like GOSH to spend more on
patient care and less on their energy bills.“
“These significant sign-ups to the campaign
come soon after thousands of 10:10 members took part in the biggest
day of positive action on climate change ever held, and four
capital cities – Paris, Mexico City, Amsterdam and Zagreb
– pledged to cut the emissions of their public services.”
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
10:10 is a movement of people, schools, businesses and other organisations working together to cut carbon by 10% in a year.
Note to editors:
The Lancet’s report, published in May 2009, concluded that, "Effects on health of climate change will be felt by most populations in the next decades and put the lives and wellbeing of billions of people at increased risk. During this century, the earth’s average surface temperature rises are likely to exceed the safe threshold of 2°C above pre-industrial average temperature."