Medical Educators
Stewards of our future healthcare workers
Why Should Medical Educators Care About Climate Change?
Teachers of any profession have a responsibility to the safety of their students. They have a duty to keep them safe from harm. Climate change is the greatest threat to the health of students and therefore educators should do what they can to both reduce the environmental impact of their institution and prepare students for the challenges they will face as the climate continues to change.
Furthermore, the Medical Schools Council has constructed a recommended curriculum on sustainable healthcare that all medical schools, and other institutions involved in healthcare education, should adhere to.
What Should Medical Educators Do About Climate Change?
Firstly, educators should ensure they are familiar with why climate change is a health crisis. Explore the other pages on Our health, Our Planet, along with the Education for Sustainable Healthcare Curriculum to familiarise yourself with the literature on climate and health issues.
Then look to see how you can embed climate change and healthcare sustainability into your curricula and what modules you could expand this area further.
You could also explore how your department and institution can further reduce its environmental impact. Some examples might be committing to plant-based meals in your department, seeing where you can reduce waste or advocating for your institute to divest money from the fossil fuel industry.
Your department or institution may already have been assessed by students involved in the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC). Read their reports and where possible, carry out their recommendations in time for the next cycle and assessment.
The Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC)
Every healthcare student and healthcare education organisation is able to take part in the PHRC campaign and use the information to drive change in their institution. Click below for more information