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Climate change

Children are among the most vulnerable to the health risks of climate change. See our position statement, action plan and resources produced with our working group of enthusiastic members and staff - and join us in tackling this issue.
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Making the NHS more sustainable - your project

We want to share your case studies and local resources - so we can all help make paediatric practice greener.
Let us know about your project
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Our eBulletin

Stay up to date with news, events and ways to get involved on climate change by signing up to our new eBulletin.

You just need to complete our short form. We'll deliver the eBulletin to your inbox every other month.
Sign up to the eBulletin
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Climate Change Working Group

This dynamic group of members delivers the College’s climate change strategy over five workstreams.
About our group

Resources for health professionals

These can support members to become more environmentally sustainable and take action.
Explore resources
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Get involved

Speak with your council about air pollution, share resources with colleauges or write about your experiences...
Get involved

Our action plan

Climate change action is embedded as a priority in our 2021-24 College strategy, and we have six ambitions to drive our activity.
See action plan
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Young people's voices

A podcast from the 'Climate Changers' group with RCPCH &Us, featuring interviews from the CCWG and young activists in Ghana!
Listen to podcast

A baking challenge

How can you be more sustainable in the kitchen? Ash Patel, host of our 'Great Paediatric Bake Off' series, baked and chatted with CCWG members Liz Marder and Katy Rose.
Watch episode

Our five workstreams

Advocating for change
Research
Support for members
College building and resources
International

The impact of climate change on global child health - our position statement

Download this 'at a glance' poster
Read full position statement

Latest news and articles on climate change

More
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Podcast
6 March 2023

Our voices: young people and climate change

This podcast is created by young volunteers with RCPCH &Us and is all about climate change with some international guests from Ghana and others closer to home from the RCPCH Climate Change Working Group and RCPCH members.

On our blog, RCPCH Insight

What do the COP26 negotiations mean for children and young people’s health?
The climate crisis is a child rights crisis
How does air pollution affect children and young people?
This #CleanAirDay, how can we protect children’s health?

Our work on air quality

Illustration by Maya, age 11

Climate change can impact air quality and, conversely, air quality can impact climate change. Poor air quality has been linked to serious health conditions in children, such as cancer, asthma and cardiovascular diseases.

We are committed to leading the way to adopt ways of working and policies that support improvements in air quality. In January 2020, we published two major pieces of research and policy advocacy to highlight the threat of poor air quality to health outcomes for children.

Outdoor air quality in the UK - our position statement
Indoor air quality - our report, 'The Inside Story'