Explore how we’re tackling climate change and how you can adopt more sustainable practices.
Sustainability Steering Group
Established in November 2022, the Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) is helping the College to play its part in addressing climate change and brings together Fellows and Members with College staff.
The group has the following priorities:
- To understand and communicate the impact of climate change, unsustainable food systems and human-made chemicals on human and planetary health.
- To support healthcare professionals to adapt to changing patterns of morbidity and mortality, improve population health, and prevent ill health and disease.
- To ensure that healthcare delivery is sustainable by establishing and promoting green initiatives.
The SSG is currently chaired by Professor Seshadri Vasan with Dr Julie Gallagher as Deputy Chair. Members hail from all professions, across different career stages and countries around the world, who have a shared passion to address these issues.
“The medical profession cannot continue to be a silent witness, sometimes even a participant, in the ongoing destruction of the Earth, our only home.”
Our climate footprint
Recognising the environmental benefits of hybrid delivery through online events, courses and exams, we’ve been able to celebrate, connect and engage with more Fellows and Members than ever before.
Our partnership with sustainability auditor, Beyond Green, enabled us to complete a five-year carbon baseline benchmarking exercise which encompassed:
- Gas and electricity consumption at our College buildings in Glasgow
- Business Travel
- Commuting by UK employees
- Waste generation
- Paper consumption
- Equity investments
Since then, our College has implemented changes across all our activity to reduce our carbon footprint.
In recognition of our progress toward becoming net zero, in 2024 we were awarded a Bronze Green Tourism Award, an accredited scheme for organisations who adopt an ethos of sustainability.
Read more about the Bronze award here
Our College is currently working toward achieving a silver accreditation as we continue to transform our operations and delivery.
"It is only through working together that we can restore the global health balance which will help sustain planetary health. All our actions matter."
A sustainable health service
Currently, the NHS is estimated to account for about 4–5% of the UK’s carbon footprint. This excludes other indirect costs such as staff, patient and visitor travel and medicines used within the home.
The NHS in England, Scotland and Wales have all made commitments to reduce carbon emissions with targets to achieve net zero and actions to deliver greener and more sustainable healthcare.
The impact of healthcare on climate change is not exclusive to the UK, it’s a global problem that needs action by each country in its local context.
- Integrate climate impact into health service strategies, directly through public sector providers and incentivising the private sector to emulate.
- Make a commitment to achieve net zero by 2045 with a roadmap outlining how this will be achieved
- Annual monitoring and reporting of carbon emissions across health services
- Invest in digital technologies, greener fleet services, and active travel for staff and visitors
- Manage patient expectations through clear and honest communications
- Get involved in working groups and activities in your local hospitals and health boards to help shape the delivery of services
- Use cleaner, greener and active transport for travel to and from work when available
- Be an advocate for a climate-healthy approach to delivering patient care
Partnership working
As a member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change we’re helping to raise awareness of the key challenges ahead, particularly in relation to the health impact of climate change.
The Chair of the Sustainability Steering Group represents the College in UKHACC, as well as the Intercollegiate Sustainability Group of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.
UKHACC collaborate with the Lancet Countdown to produce annual health policy briefs outlining recommendations for governments across the world to centre health in their response to climate change.
Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist
The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist is designed to support members of the surgical team to introduce changes in their own operating departments.
Educational resources
Explore our College courses, webinars and toolkits to help you adopt sustainability into your everyday practice.
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