The impacts of climate change pose a threat not only to our planet, but to our health and the NHS too. Therefore, we are committed to providing leadership in the decarbonisation of general practice, and across our own organisation.
What are the health impacts of climate change?
Human health is inextricably linked to planetary health. Much of what contributes to climate change also contributes to ill health and health inequalities, such as air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels. This is why RCGP have a strategic priority to respond to the climate emergency.
More frequent and intense heatwaves, flooding and storms all pose a threat to our health and wellbeing, including heat-related illness, stress and injury, particularly to those that are more vulnerable. Climate change is also facilitating the increase of diseases, like Lyme Disease.
Changes to the climate
- Higher temperatures
- Rising sea levels
- More extreme weather
- Ocean acidification
Effects of climate change
- Biodiversity loss
- Increased water scarcity
- Food insecurity
- Flooding
- Infrastructure damage
Health impacts of climate change
- Heat-related illness
- Mental health, such as climate anxiety
- Injuries or mortality from extreme weather events
- Pressure on the NHS
- Respiratory illness
Taking action at the RCGP
RCGP is committed to taking action on climate change as a property owner, landlord, employer and purchaser. RCGP has a dedicated Sustainability Lead, but every directorate is embedding action on climate change to reduce emissions and build resilience.
The College has been delivering multiple actions to reduce emissions:
- Establishment of Climate and Sustainability Faculty Leads
- Establishment of a delivery group across the College
- Development of a Heat Decarbonisation Plan for 30 Euston Square
- Creation of a framework for embedding sustainability within the delivery of events/conferences
- Coverage of planetary health within every component of the MRCGP assessment
- Contribution to the Lancet Review UK policy briefing (external PDF)
Our planned pipeline of activity includes:
- Embedding sustainability guidelines within procurement
- Enhancing the Net Zero Hub
- Producing an action plan for increasing the number of events/meetings which provide a healthy, majority plant-based offering
For actions taking place in 2022-23 the RCGP scored joint first in the Climate and Health Scorecard Initiative.
The scorecards recognise the significant progress that the College has made, ranging from reducing emissions within internal operations, educating staff and members about planetary health, and the wider advocacy and policy work.
Find out more about the RCGP's Climate and Health Scorecard.
We conduct Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) annually, on a voluntary basis, to be transparent about the College’s carbon emissions and to facilitate our pipeline of action on reducing carbon emissions. Our carbon emissions have been measured since the baseline year 2019-20.
During the reporting year of 2024-25, RCGP saw a 2.8% reduction in emissions compared to 2023-24. When compared to the baseline year of 2019-20, this marks an overall reduction of 51%.
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