Climate change

The Royal College of Physicians is a leading voice in the debate surrounding the impact of climate change on public and human health. This is reflected in the steps we have taken to increase awareness through our members and staff and our work with national and global partners to actively engage with this critical issue.

What is the RCP doing about climate change?

The RCP is concerned that there is a widespread knowledge gap surrounding the health impacts of climate change and the health co-benefits of mitigating climate change.  There are three ways we are engaging with the issue:

1. partnerships

2. staff initiatives

3. climate week

Partnerships

Climate change roundtable event

During the negotiations at COP16 (Cancun, December 2010), it was clear that the 'health' message of climate change is not adequately grasped by negotiators or their administrative teams. This problem is compounded by the fact that the 'human/health' sector is not represented meaningfully on the international negotiating teams.

On 8 February the RCP attended a climate change roundtable event to share our concern, confirm our commitment and discuss ways of collaborating around the climate change agenda.   RCP and other organisations (including LSHTM, UCL, Climate and Health Council, International Federation of Medical Students Association, UK Youth Climate Coalition, Parliamentary Commonwealth Association, Health Care Without Harm, Health and Environmental Alliance) agreed a preliminary strategy of collaborative working to increase awareness and education around climate change.

It was agreed that the target audience must include the public, national politicians and the health profession. In addition, the role of health professionals on the negotiating teams was addressed. A further meeting is currently being arranged to discuss how and where this group should best target their efforts.

Regional updates

A presentation is currently being developed to educate medical professionals around climate change which will be presented at the RCP’s various regional updates and conferences, across the UK.

Publications

Commentary is the RCP’s membership magazine, which is published six times a year and delivers news and features about the RCP on behalf of our fellows and members. April’s issue will feature an article by two fourth year medical students Danny Hutley and Maya Tickell-Painter about their engagement with climate change. The article describes how in 2009, they joined with others from around the world to write to the UN, echoing the RCP’s view that climate education is key to action and young people have the right to participate in the decision-making process as young people will live through the worst of the impacts.

Staff initiatives

Cycle scheme

Using less motor vehicle transport and more active transport, such as walking or cycling, will bring health benefits; 10 – 20% fall in heart disease and stroke, 12-13% reduction in breast cancer, 8% fall in dementia and 5% fall in depression.

To encourage its staff to use active transport, the RCP has a partnership arrangement with Cyclescheme, the UK’s number one provider of tax free bicycles for work through independent bicycle shops. This scheme enables employees to pay less tax and NI, so they can obtain a bicycle more cheaply than if purchased by their own means.

Recycling

The volume of waste that humans are producing is increasing and is too large for nature to recycle by itself. This increase is caused by the development of new packaging materials (which make up a quarter of rubbish disposal), lifestyle change and increasing affluence and population.

Waste is deposited into landfill sites, treated with manufactured chemicals and/or incinerated, all of which have a harmful effect on our environment and our health.

Recycling protects our:  

• health because it reduces the amount of harmful substances and pollutants from the waste stream

• environment because it conserves energy and saves natural resources

• economy because well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, land filling, and incineration.

Recycling at the RCP

All employees at the RCP are asked to adhere to our recycling policy at their new starter induction. The RCP currently recycles its batteries, printer cartridges, CDs, paper and card, plastic, aluminium cans, glass, water and food waste. Read the following downloadable PDFs about what happens to them:

• What happens to your batteries
• What happens to your printer cartridges
• What happens to your paper
• What happens to your drinking vessels

Paper, card and plastic

The organisation is currently operating a pilot in three RCP departments whereby waste disposal bins have been removed from individual workstations and replaced by recycling bins. This has reduced our overall general waste that goes to landfill by 1100 litres per week and increased our recycling collection by the same amount. 

The RCP has replaced its drinks machine which sold metal cans of soft drinks with a machine selling plastic bottles only. It would have increased our carbon footprint for an additional collection of metal cans to be introduced; therefore it made environmental and economic sense to change our drinks machine.

Food and garden waste

With the exception of foods that cannot be put into the recycling bin such as fish bones and certain cooked foods, most of the RCP’s food is bio-degradable. Currently the RCP pays for an external provider to collect our garden and food waste on a weekly basis and turn it into compost.  In April 2011, we will be piloting the introduction of two wormeries situated in our back car park. This will be reviewed in October 2011.

Water

The RCP used to buy in its bottled water. Now it filters and carbonates its water on site and re-bottles it for use. The glass bottles can only be cleaned an infinite amount of times but they are 100% recyclable so when recycled they are used for new bottles or road aggregate.

Low-carbon electricity

Alternative sources of energy to generate electricity will reduce CO2 emissions and illnesses caused by air pollution; therefore the RCP is researching the feasibility of solar panels being fitted to the roofs of our building. More will be known about this in the coming months

Climate Week

The RCP has signed up to Climate Week. A movement during the period 21–27 March, when UK businesses, community groups and schools showcase the steps they have taken to combat climate change. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of climate change and encourage people to highlight and share the various solutions they have found.