Climate change and environmental sustainability in emergency medicine: a narrative review

Climate change and global warming pose increasing threats to human health. These could have significant impact on healthcare systems, especially emergency services. In this narrative review, we aim to examine how climate change affects emergency attendances and operations, and to suggest strategies to reduce environmental impact through sustainability efforts.

We performed literature search of published studies on healthcare environmental sustainability and climate change in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Scopus databases using the following search terms: ("climate change" OR "global warming" OR "heatwave" OR "heat wave" OR "greenhouse effect") AND ("emergency department" OR "emergency medicine" OR "emergency, hospital services"), ("sustainability in healthcare" OR "environmental footprint" OR "carbon footprint" OR "carbon emission" OR "greenhouse gas" OR "energy us*" OR "waste") AND ("health care system" OR "health system" OR "health care" OR "healthcare" OR "health sector"). Study team members conducted independent searches of articles and any discrepancy between two members was resolved by a third independent co-investigator.

Climate change increases incidences of both communicable and non-communicable diseases through heat-related illnesses, respiratory and infectious diseases, and physical injuries from natural disasters, leading to higher demand on emergency services. Structural damage and physical injuries from natural disasters also negatively impact healthcare resources. Vulnerable populations like the very young and elderly are extremely susceptible. Ironically, the healthcare sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and waste production. There are challenges faced by both patients and healthcare providers in adopting sustainability in healthcare. We proposed the SCRAP strategy (Stewardship of resources, Carbon footprint reduction, Research, Advocacy for change, and Policies and education) to attain sustainable healthcare: (I) stewardship of resources; (II) carbon footprint reduction; (III) research; (IV) advocacy for change; and (V) policies and education.

As the frontline of most healthcare systems, emergency departments bear the brunt of resultant increased attendances. Urgent actions by the emergency medicine fraternity are needed to understand and tackle the causes and consequences of climate change in tandem with environmental sustainability efforts to mitigate these issues.