The PDA declared a climate emergency back in February 2022 and welcomes a recent update from FIP Global President, Paul Sinclair on how FIP is taking action on behalf of PDA members and others.
Paul Sinclair said, “Last week FIP shared an invitation from the World Health Organization, in anticipation of COP28, for pharmacists to unite with other healthcare professionals to call for world leaders to meet the commitments they have made on climate issues. Over four million healthcare professionals have added their signatures to this petition.
This weekend saw the first day dedicated to health in the history of these climate negotiations and the delivery of a COP28 Climate and Health Declaration. By signing the declaration, 123 countries have acknowledged the growing health impacts of climate change and the large benefits to communities of stronger climate change action, including by reducing air pollution, decarbonising energy systems by at least 43% over the next seven years, and lowering health care costs.
For the first time, health ministers are attending the conference alongside environment ministers, signalling a shift in how climate policies are considered. The declaration includes a set of finance commitments on climate and health to support the political commitments.
Addressing climate change will require action from heads of government, ministers, business leaders across sectors, communities and individuals. FIP hopes that the Climate and Health Declaration will increase momentum in both the public and private sectors but, as health professionals, we each have a big stake in this and a big role to play.”
Paul Day, PDA Director added, “Climate change impacts all of us. Increasingly pharmacists are considering the climate impact of their own practice alongside the wider impact of society on sustainability and the potential consequences for health.
The PDA supports achieving a cleaner environment, more affordable energy, smarter transport, new jobs, and an overall better quality of life for the world and these are the objectives of a green transition. The PDA also recognise that the sum of each local action, no matter how small, can add up to make a global difference.”
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