This special symposium on 06 November will focus on the challenges posed to health in Ireland due to climate change and environmental pressures.

Antibiotics in the food chain, single use plastics in hospitals, the obesogenic environment, infectious diseases and climate change and safer and healthier transport options, these are just some of the issues to be discussed at a special symposium next month at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) in Dublin.

The Green Health Symposium will take place on Wednesday, 06 November at the RCPI and is presented in conjunction with APC Microbiome; a world leading Science Foundation Ireland research centre in gastrointestinal health, and the Irish Heart Foundation.

This one-day event focuses on the challenges and opportunities for health in Ireland in light of both climate change and increasing environmental pressures.

Delivered by leading experts, this symposium is designed to inform doctors, allied healthcare professionals and policy makers about the challenges for health posed by climate change and to empower them to advocate for behaviour and policy changes to improve the health of both the nation and the planet.

Professor Michael Depledge, Emeritus Professor of Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter Medical School in the UK and Chair of the Board of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health will open the symposium as the keynote speaker sharing his sharing his expert knowledge in the field.

Other speakers on the day will include Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr Sadbh Lee from Irish Doctors for the Environment, Professor Fergus Shanahan, Principal Investigator with APC Microbiome and Professor Martin Cormican, National Clinical Lead for Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Professor Francis Finucane, Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital will also address the meeting on the obesogenic environment while Dr Ina Kelly, Consultant in Public Health Medicine will present findings from a survey of the environmental concerns of members and fellows of the RCPI.

Commenting Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation said, “We are very pleased to partner with the College in this important symposium that will highlight many of the key issues relating to the climate crisis and human health.

“The Irish Heart Foundation is extremely concerned about the impact of the climate crisis and believes that action on climate will have significant co-benefits for human health. This unprecedented crisis has led to a mobilisation of civil society groups across the planet and the very strong linkages between human and planet health demand that health organisations such as the IHF add their voice.

“We would like to raise the level of debate about the nexus between cardiovascular health and the major shifts that are necessary in the way we organise everything from transport to food production in order to address the climate crisis.”

As part of the RCPI’s commitment to the environment the Green Health Symposium aims to produce as little waste as possible. Printed materials will be kept to a minimum and any produced will be recycled. Lanyards and name badges will be collected to be used again. Compostable coffee cups will be provided, and water will be served in glass bottles to cut down on plastic waste.

Attendees are also encouraged, where possible, to use public transport, cycle or walk to the event.

For more information or to book tickets please see here