Pharmacy teams urged to sign up to 'bold action' on climate change

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Pharmacy Declares are inviting pharmacy teams from around the world to sign up and commit to taking "bold action" on climate change as mentioned in a climate change charter which was published on Monday (June 13).

The charter asks pharmacy teams to commit to understanding how human health and the systems which underpin it are "reliant on the state of our natural environment" and actively explore ways to make pharmacy practice and medicine use more sustainable.

It also asks to collaborate and share best practice to improve sustainability in pharmacy and healthcare; demonstrate leadership on sustainability or being a champion for sustainability at work; and assist patients to optimise their medicine use to increase both health outcomes and environmental sustainability.

The individuals can also commit to a personal action on climate change of their own choosing.

The Charter is being supported by a strong coalition of organisations from across pharmacy including the Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education, the Clinical Pharmacy Association, College of Mental Health Pharmacy and Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists.

Laura Wilson, policy lead for sustainability at RPS, said: “I am proud that RPS has taken the lead on climate change by launching this Climate Change Charter, in association with Pharmacy Declares and other expert, national pharmacy organisations. It’s hugely positive to see so many organisations from across the pharmacy community already supporting the Charter.

“Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have an important role to play in tackling climate change, having unique expertise in medicines and their use. We hope the Charter will encourage pharmacy teams across the country to start really important conversations about how to address this issue.”

Tracy Lyons of Pharmacy Declares said: “We are absolutely delighted to support this pharmacy professional Climate Change Charter. We know that the very best pharmaceutical care is intricately tied to 'planetary health' and how much we as a profession can contribute towards optimising this. I'm hugely excited about the opportunity to showcase the climate-health leadership being shown by teams up and down the country'."