Survey for child health professionals with experience working outside the UK on the impact of climate change on child health
We are writing to the child health community with experience working outside the UK asking to help us better understand the impact of climate change on children and on your working life. Are you seeing climate refugees? Is it becoming more difficult to get medicine to where it is needed? Do you need help adapting to changing climates?
[This survey is now closed.]
In 2020, RCPCH declared climate change a child health emergency that requires accelerated collaborative actions. Tackling climate change is a priority in the college’s 2021-2024 strategy. According to international data, in 2020, 2.35 billion children under 18 years (almost every child on the planet) were exposed to environmental risks such as air pollution, and many are exposed to multiple and overlapping risks, including extreme weather, clean water and food shortages, and vector-borne diseases.
We know that children everywhere are not accessing their most fundamental rights, which are critical for good health. Alarmingly, many are already seeing these current deprivations being amplified because of the changing climate. Unfairly, it is people living in the countries which contributed least to global emissions that are bearing the brunt of the increased burden of disease, and children are especially vulnerable.
In our mission to provide a voice for our child health colleagues, today we are launching a survey through which you can tell us about the impacts of climate change you are already seeing in your work, what you expect to see in the coming years and any mitigations you have already developed.
As the chairs of the international workstream of the RCPCH Climate Change Working Group, we hope to provide a platform for those who witness the devastating impact on children and are best positioned to offer advice on how to make practical adaptation suggestions and contribute to shared learning.
In our mission to provide a voice for our child health colleagues, today we are launching a survey through which you can tell us about impacts of climate change you are already seeing in your work, what you expect to see in the coming years and any mitigations you have already developed. We know there isn’t much data on this, which is why we welcome any anecdotal experiences you can share.
[This survey is now closed.]
We plan to use the results of this survey to create a report that we can use to motivate leaders to ensure all children everywhere access their fundamental economic and social human rights. All children should have access to clean air, safe water, sanitation, and affordable and nutritious food. Leaders should prioritise the delivery of a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
This original message was emailed to RCPCH overseas members who are opted in to receive College surveys. You can update your contact preferences at any time - log in to your RCPCH online account, go to My account | Your contact preferences, then make sure you've ticked the types of communications you would like to receive.