Climate change has been identified as a priority in our new College strategy for 2021-24, and we have established a comprehensive programme of work driven by our members as part of a Climate Change Working Group (CCWG).
We now have a dedicated climate change key topic page on the RCPCH website to bring all of our work on this topic into one place, including case studies, blogs and explainers. This includes a repository of resources for health professionals, collated by our climate change working group, which we will be updating on a monthly basis. If you’d like to contribute something yourself you can get in touch via the climate change working group email address which is ccwg@rcpch.ac.uk.
The best way to keep up to date with the work of the CCWG is through the RCPCH email communications, including your monthly eBulletin. There are also a number of ways you can get more actively involved.
Current opportunities
Approach your local council about air pollution
Members of our climate change working group have produced a toolkit to support paediatricians with approaching their local councils about air pollution. This is designed to be used around local elections, or at any time when engaging with council members or local MPs on this important topic.
Join in with Ride for Their Lives
In autumn 2021 a group of paediatricians cycled from London to Glasgow ahead of COP26. Since then, Ride for their Lives has developed into an international collaboration of healthcare providers riding together to start conversations, inspire action and put pressure on policymakers to protect the planet for children now and into the future.
RCPCH supports the campaign and its aims. So, whether you're an experienced cyclist or new to two wheels, we encourage you to join an upcoming ride, or even set one up yourself!
Find out more about Ride for Their Lives
Ongoing opportunities
Share our resources with your colleagues
We'd encourage you to read and share our position statement with your contacts to help spread the word about climate change and the impact on child health. You can also join the conversation on social media, using #healthyclimate and #healthiertomorrow.
Write a blog or case study for us
We are always eager to here reflective and personal stories from our members to strengthen our voice. Have you witnessed the impact of climate change on a child's health first hand? Or do you have a sustainable healthcare project from your hospital that others could learn from? We'd love to hear from you - please send any ideas for blogs or case study contributions to ccwg@rcpch.ac.uk.
Send us a photo
We are always keen to receive pictures of our members doing something green at home, in your local community or at your workplace. Please send any images you have consent to use to ccwg@rcpch.ac.uk so we can share them on our Instagram channel @rcpch.
Follow UKHACC activities
The College is a long-standing member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, or UKHACC. The UKHACC brings together doctors, nurses and other health professionals to advocate for responses to climate change that protect and promote public health. They produce monthly emails for health professionals, and we'd encourage you to sign up to receive these if you are interested in hearing more about their activities.
Get involved with our CCWG
Our climate change working group is made up of paediatricians who are passionate about making change. We're currently operating a waiting list, but if you are interested in joining, please send an expression of interest to us by email to ccwg@rcpch.ac.uk, and we can discuss.