Doctors' travel in the Anthropocene

Area of Science:

• Environmental science and public health
• Climate change impacts on healthcare systems

Background:

• The health sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Climate change poses risks to public health, necessitating adaptation.
• Decarbonizing the complex health sector presents a major challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of travel by hospital-based senior doctors for continuing medical education on greenhouse gas emissions.
• To understand the systemic factors enabling and encouraging this travel.
• To propose redesigns for a decarbonized health sector that optimizes education and well-being.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of travel patterns of hospital-based senior doctors for continuing medical education.
• Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions associated with this travel.
• Examination of educational, financial, regulatory, and cultural mechanisms supporting such travel.

Main Results:

• Doctors' travel for continuing medical education is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions for health boards.
• There is considerable uncertainty in current emission estimates.
• Existing systems encourage and facilitate this travel, linking it to job satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Redesigning the system is crucial for optimizing education, job satisfaction, collaboration, and well-being.
• Doctors are key leaders in driving decarbonization within the health sector.
• Achieving a decarbonized health sector requires systemic changes to practices like professional travel.