Climate: College calls for fundamental change
Last year the College published its position statement declaring a climate and ecological emergency.
Through the leadership of President Dr Adrian James, and our Associate Registrars for Sustainability, Dr Lisa Page and Dr Jacob Krzanowski - and the whole Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee - the College has continued to work to highlight some ways you can help make your practice more ecologically sustainable.
Nevertheless, it's clear that we also need immediate, radical action from the UK government if we are to seriously address the crisis.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Lancet Countdown published its 7th annual indicator report, ahead of COP27.
This report includes findings on health and climate change, monitoring the transition from climate threat to health opportunity.
Country specific briefs are published to accompany the report, including a UK brief which pulls UK data from indicators and makes recommendations to UK policymakers.
This year’s UK brief was co-written and co-produced by colleagues at the Lancet Countdown and the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change. RCPsych contributed to its development alongside the Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Medical Association.
Collectively, we’re calling on the UK government to build on its early leadership on climate action and make fundamental societal changes to protect people and the planet. We recommend that the UK Government:
- ends all subsidies, investments, new licences and consent for fossil fuels
- adopts a legally-binding commitment to reducing fine particulate air pollution
- creates equitable access to green space in the UK by prioritising the protection and development of high-quality natural places to ensure all people have a local park within a 10-minute walk of their home.
You should take the time to read the UK policy briefing.
Back to our October 2022 eNewsletter.