College to host public lecture on climate change

How to tackle the climate change crisis is a defining issue of our time – and it will soon be the focus of a public lecture at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the “College”).  

The lecture, taking place on Thursday 20 February at 6pm, will examine the impact climate change will have on the health of the global population and health care systems across the world, and what we can do to mitigate its worst effects.

The audience will hear from a range of leading experts on the impact of climate change on public health, heath care systems and the environment, including:

• Dr Richard Smith CBE, Chair of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and former editor of the BMJ
• Professor Liz Grant, Assistant Principal and Professor of Global Health and Development at the University of Edinburgh
• Professor David Reay, Professor of Carbon Management and Education Assistant Principal at the University of Edinburgh

A lively debate is sure to be had, as the experts will discuss hot topics including the goals of the Paris Treaty, the action being taken by the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will be held in Glasgow 9-19 November 2020.

This will be the last public lecture to be hosted by the outgoing president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Professor Derek Bell OBE.

The event will take place on Thursday 20 February, at 6pm. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from Eventbrite.

Commenting ahead of the public lecture, Professor Bell said:

As I reach the end of my presidency of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, I have chosen to hold a final public lecture on what is becoming a defining issue of our age; climate change. In particular, the College is interested in the impact climate change is having on the health of the global population and health care systems across the world.

I am pleased to welcome three experts with a wealth of experience in this area – Dr Richard Smith, Professor Liz Grant, and Professor David Reay. Our speakers will discuss the sense of urgency around the climate change crisis and what the health implications are.

I am particularly looking forward to what I’m sure will be a lively debate around the Paris Treaty goals, the level action being taken by government in the UK and Scotland, and COP26. I would encourage anybody who is interested in the future sustainability of our health systems and our environment to come along, and settle in for a fascinating evening.