By Abdullahi Lukman
As International Women’s Day 2025 approaches with the theme: Accelerating Action, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is urging the UK Government to take immediate steps to protect women’s health from the escalating risks of climate change.
The College is calling for stronger action to reduce emissions, safeguard essential healthcare services, and prioritize gender equality within climate strategies.
Climate change is already impacting women’s health, with rising temperatures and poor air quality exacerbating risks for pregnant women.
In the UK, the heatwaves of 2022 and 2024 have intensified the dangers of heat-related complications, while air pollution is linked to severe pregnancy risks, including preterm birth and stillbirth.
The situation is even more critical globally, where extreme weather events, food insecurity, and displacement are disproportionately affecting women, particularly in low-income regions.
Climate-induced disasters like floods and wildfires increase women’s vulnerability to gender-based violence and limit access to maternal healthcare, exacerbating existing gender inequalities.
The RCOG stresses that developed nations, including the UK, must urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
The College is urging the government to halt new fossil fuel exploration and extraction licenses and phase out fossil fuel reliance.
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RCOG President Dr. Ranee Thakar has previously condemned the approval of the Rosebank oilfield, arguing it would worsen both the climate crisis and public health.
The Scottish courts recently ruled the approval unlawful, citing its failure to account for emissions.
In addition to reducing emissions, the RCOG emphasizes the need to strengthen healthcare resilience against climate-related disruptions.
Healthcare services, including maternity care, must remain accessible during extreme weather events like flooding and heatwaves.
The College advocates for reversing cuts to the overseas aid budget, which supports lower-income countries in adapting to climate challenges and advancing gender equality globally.
The RCOG is committed to promoting sustainable healthcare practices, including helping its members deliver low-carbon care.
The College will host the Green Maternity Conference on March 19, 2025, focusing on reducing healthcare emissions while ensuring high-quality maternity services.
Dr. Thakar concluded, “Climate change is happening, and we cannot sit back and let it damage health across our lifetime and the lives of generations to come.
The UK Government must act now.”
