The General Pharmaceutical Council has launched its Carbon net zero action plan for sustainable pharmacy regulation with the aim for the GPhC to reach carbon net zero by 2040.
The action plan has three main elements:
- Putting our own house in order
It is only right that we lead by example, doing everything we can within our own organisation in the first instance to reduce our carbon footprint. This involves addressing emissions from our office, assessing travel policies, governance practices, and collaborating with our supply chain to reduce emissions. - Greening our regulatory levers
Our primary objective is to integrate greener thinking into our regulatory framework and the way that we regulate. This includes incorporating sustainability into the standards we set, the training we mandate, inspections we conduct, and our communication and engagement strategies. We need to ensure that the pharmacy sector understands the risks and opportunities associated with climate change, along with the requirements for adaptation to minimise the environmental impacts of pharmacy practices. By having a green thread running through our regulatory approach, we can encourage pharmacies to take action, thereby directly improving patient care and promoting overall health and wellbeing. - Collaborative efforts for sustainable pharmacy care
As a regulator, we engage with a diverse range of stakeholders including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies that we regulate, students and trainees, pharmacy bodies, other regulators, and public and patient groups. We'll work together to enable and support the delivery of sustainable pharmacy care, emphasising cooperation and shared responsibility in achieving our goals.
Roz Gittins, Chief Pharmacy Officer at the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:
“Climate change is a global emergency and has been declared the biggest threat to public health; it poses health risks but also amplifies existing health inequalities, having direct and immediate consequences for patients, the public and health services.
“As a result, the GPhC is actively engaged in addressing climate change, both as an employer and regulator. Our aim is to positively influence the pharmacy sector to embrace climate action and sustainable healthcare principles in line with our vision to have safe and effective pharmacy care at the heart of healthier communities.
“This commitment to achieving net zero highlights our dedication to reducing our environmental impact and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.”