Climate change has been dubbed one of the biggest challenges of our time.
Nursing staff in the UK are calling on world leaders to “treat climate change as the emergency it is”.
It comes as ahead of the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this week where world leaders will discuss ways to tackle the climate change emergency.
Climate change has been dubbed one of the biggest challenges of our time.
Lisa Evans, a registered nurse and environmental advocate, told NursingNotes; “Climate change is one of the biggest issues of our generation – and we need to tackle it head-on.
“Today I challenge every registered nurse in the country to make one small change in their workplace. Imagine the impact over the whole NHS if we all make small changes.”
In October 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health service to commit to reaching carbon net-zero, in response to the profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change. The “Delivering a Net Zero Health Service” report sets out a clear ambition and two evidence-based targets.
Taking climate change seriously.
Royal College of Nursing President Dr Denise Chaffer, said: “As leaders from across the world gather in Glasgow, nursing staff want them to treat climate change as the emergency it is.
“Our duty, as nursing staff, is to protect and promote public health in the face of the threats posed by climate change but we can’t do this alone.
“We have taken strides in making our workplaces more sustainable through our Glove Awareness campaign, reduction of waste, and other strategies.
“However, with unsustainable pressure on health and care services caused by chronic staffing shortages, our members are anxious their work could be for nothing without urgent action.
“The UK Government can show the world it is taking climate change seriously by pledging more than just tackling the causes of global warming.
“It must also commit to investing in public health, as well as our health and care services, to strengthen our healthcare workforce as the conseq
