Nurse managers urged to be active in promoting environmental sustainability
The RCN is lobbying healthcare providers to adopt strategies on environmental sustainability
- The NHS is the largest public-sector contributor to climate change in Europe
- A resolution passed by RCN congress requires the college to lobby healthcare providers
- Healthcare providers are urged to develop sustainable policies and raise awareness of climate change
Nursing managers need to be aware of sustainability and think about what it may mean in their workplaces, the RCN says as it addresses climate change.
Gwen Vardigans speaking at RCN Congress. The RCN wants nurses to lobby healthcare providers for strategies on environmental sustainability and raise awareness of climate change.
The college is taking action following a debate at its annual congress, in May, in which nurses spoke passionately about the need for it to lead on climate change.
Members passed a resolution putting the issue on the organisation’s agenda for future action.
The congress resolution requires the college to lobby healthcare providers to develop environmentally sustainable policies and strategies, and to raise awareness of climate change.
During the debate Gwen Vardigans, from North Yorkshire, cited environmental protests by schoolchildren inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, protests in London by the Extinction Rebellion movement and extreme weather events, as well as warnings from scientists and the World Health Organization.
She said action was critical and suggested that RCN representatives could become involved in their organisations, encouraging people to reduce waste, recycle and help reduce their carbon footprint.
‘Climate change is the biggest threat of our lives,’ Ms Vardigans told fellow nurses.
‘Sustainability is going to be with us for many years to come, and nurses are going to be at the centre of managing and supporting it’
RCN sustainability lead Rose Gallagher says that despite the many kinds of healthcare setting and nurses in the UK, there are several things that all nursing managers can do on climate change.
Nurses urged to learn about the sustainable development
She says: ‘The most important thing for managers is to be aware of the increasing priority of sustainability and think about what that might mean in your workplace.’
Ms Gallagher says work on sustainability has been growing for several years and urges nurses to familiarise themselves with the Sustainable Development Unit, which is funded by and accountable to NHS England and Public Health England.
Its job is to ensure that the health and care system fulfils its potential as a leading sustainable and low-carbon service.
‘Sustainability is going to be with us for many years to come, and nurses are going to be at the centre of managing and supporting it, and bringing the public with us,’ says Ms Gallagher.
To learn more please visit World Nursing Congress 2020
