Taking action on climate and health

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) today released a position paper calling for strong and urgent action from leaders in Irish healthcare to highlight and act on the imminent danger that climate breakdown poses to health.

Launched during the college’s annual symposium on 19 October 2023, the report says that planetary health must be prioritised now to meet our carbon targets for 2030 and 2050. 

Dr Cathy Burke, who represented Irish Doctors for the Environment and whose members co-authored the report, says we need to take action now.

“Nationally we’ve acknowledged the crisis, but this hasn’t been followed by very decisive action – our carbon footprint has actually increased.”

She added that the acknowledgment of the crisis must be matched by policy and change at the pace that we need it.

Professor Trevor Duffy, Head of Healthcare Leadership at RCPI, called on the college’s Members and Fellows to step up and get involved.

RCPI is committed to creating a space for discussion on climate and health, to increase awareness amongst its membership and to advocate for the provision of climate-informed, sustainable healthcare in Ireland for the benefit of our patients, our country, and our planet.

The next step is consultation on climate and health with Members and Fellows, which began during the symposium today, and the college will be calling for doctors to get involved across the country.

Read the position paper:  Taking Action on Climate Change and Health – RCPI – October 2023 | Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (preservica.com)