ABSTRACT
The guiding principle of the pharmaceutical industry is to improve health and well-being. Therefore, it is vital for this industry to evaluate its own role and responsibilities towards climate change. For the pharma sector, the impact of climate change is twofold – responding to the increased risk of emerging diseases and health concerns as a result of environmental damage and secondly, decarbonising its own manufacturing and operational processes to prevent worsening impact. The pharmaceutical industry’s carbon emissions might not match those of heavy manufacturing industries and the energy sector, but various global studies have demonstrated the strong need for the pharma sector to step up and make concerted efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to manage effluent discharge systems that pollute water and land resources causing a threat to public health. The indispensability of medicines has allowed pharma companies to go unquestioned when it comes to the environment impact they cause. Therefore, there is a necessity for pharma companies to understand and address the interface between people, health, environment and its own operations. It is crucial for the industry to learn from best practices, and work collaboratively with the government and other relevant stakeholders to create a conducive ecosystem that contributes positively to public health.
