RCP backs publication of the 'The Lancet Series on Health and Climate Change'

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 12:00 AM

Responding to the publication today of research into how climate change, and policies to mitigate its effects will affect the health of people around the world, Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians said:

"The Royal College of Physicians is pleased to be instigating this vital research programme which highlights the positive health benefits of tackling climate change. We have been on the back foot too often in portraying the issue of climate change in negative terms. As today's articles make clear, living within our ecological means would also mean less heart disease, cancer, obesity and respiratory illness. Add to this the certainty that a degraded environment will impact on the health and wellbeing of the population and we have the most urgent possible motives to pursue lower emissions."

Notes to editors

The comments above was issued in response to a series of six papers published in The Lancet which explore how policies to mitigate against climate change will affect the health and lives of populations around the world. The series was funded by the Royal College of Physicians, the Wellcome Trust, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Department for Health, National Institute for Health Research, the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Academy of Medical Sciences, with support from WHO.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) plays a leading role in the delivery of high quality patient care by setting standards of medical practice and promoting clinical excellence. The College provides physicians in the United Kingdom and overseas with education, training and support throughout their careers. As an independent body representing over 20,000 Fellows and Members worldwide, it also advises and works with government, the public, patients and other professions to improve health and healthcare. http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk

For a link to the executive summary of the Series, please see: http://press.thelancet.com/ccexec.pdf

For further information or comment please contact Frank Soodeen, PR and Public Affairs Officer, on 0203 075 1468 or through frank.soodeen@rcplondon.ac.uk

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