RPS signs charter for climate action, calls it a ‘vital collaboration’

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society(RPS) has signed a charter designed to guide effective and high-quality climate action by professional bodies in the UK.

The charter launched today (October 7) has been developed by the professional associations' research Network of which the RPS is a long-standing member.

RPS president Claire Anderson said: “The Professional Bodies' Climate Action Charter was discussed at our recent 3 country board meeting. I’m pleased that there was unanimous agreement that it was absolutely right for us to be signatories and to adopt the charter’s principles into our activity on climate change.

“This charter will act as a catalyst to bring people together and for best practice to be shared across professional groups. With climate change being such a seismic challenge, collaboration of this kind is vital.”

The charter encompasses three commitments:

• to chart a path that supports professionals to deliver their practice in line with the Paris Agreement and UN sustainability goals.
• to commit signatories to speak with a united voice in support for climate action when addressing other professional bodies, national governments and the public.
• to empower and inspire individual members to drive sustainability by developing resources that help enable the adoption of environmental best practices.

RPS chief executive Paul Bennett added: “Following our declaration of a climate emergency in September, we are now working on a policy that will outline pharmacy’s role in sustainable healthcare.

“We’ll also continue to highlight the innovative work of our members and are developing a space for networking and sharing best practice on sustainability for RPS members as part of the new RPS Connect platform.”