Dr Helena Clements appointed RCPCH Officer for Climate Change

The Officer for Climate Change is an exciting new role for RCPCH, and Helena will take up office for an initial period of two years.
Picture of Helena Clements, RCPCH Officer for Climate Change

Helena is a consultant paediatrician, associate medical director and climate action clinical lead at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust. Helena has lived sustainably in an eco-house for over 20 years, and in the last 5 years, she has been driving climate action in her professional life. 

In the last 18 months Helena has been chairing the clinical advisory group for the Nottinghamshire Greener ICS Board and is now the Clinical Director for Notts Net Zero ICS. She is collaborating with the Midlands clinical senate and has been part of the RCPCH Climate Change Working Group since its inception in 2021. 

Newly appointed Officer for Climate Change Dr Helena Clements said:

I was delighted to see the creation of this new Officer role for the College and it is a great privilege to be the first post-holder. I’d like to give thanks to Liz Marder and Camilla Kingdon, whose collective leadership on climate change over the past three years has formed solid foundations for me to take over the baton on leading the College’s work on this important issue. 

Our work is by no means done; and climate change remains the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century. It is children who will bear the greatest burden of impact, and our job is to put their health and voices at the centre of climate change policy-making. It’s a huge responsibility and remit and I am excited to get started! 

RCPCH Vice President for Policy Dr Mike McKean said: 

It is a great pleasure to announce Dr Helena Clements as our first Officer for Climate Change. Helena has extensive experience of leading climate action at local, regional and national levels throughout her career and she has been a valuable leader within RCPCH’s Climate Change Working Group since its inception.

Although the College have been doing work on climate change action for several years, the appointment of Helena marks a new phase as we look to expand our advocacy on behalf of children even further through our new partnership with the Clean Air Fund. I am really looking forward to supporting Helena with taking this important work forward.

About RCPCH's work on climate change

Action on climate change is an identified priority in the College strategy for 2021-24, with involvement from around 80 of our members who have been working hard as part of a dedicated Climate Change Working Group since 2021 to deliver the commitments in our climate change action plan. 

We are pleased to have secured a significant grant from the Clean Air Fund, enabling us to continue this work through a new partnership, safeguarding a clean air future for children and young people.

This new Officer for Climate Change post will take over the leadership of our activity on tackling climate change, including overseeing our climate change working group and associated activity, and supporting the two Clinical Fellows associated with our Clean Air Fund Partnership.