Should environmental sustainability be a priority for the gastroenterology community?

Abstract

Sustainable practice means living within our means and not compromising the health of the planet for future generations. We are not meeting this goal at present as evidenced by the breaking of several indicators of planetary health and ever-increasing global mean temperatures. The arguments in favour of environmental sustainability include our ethical obligations as healthcare providers not to harm patients. We know that the emissions from healthcare are damaging health, so it follows that we have an obligation to minimise them. There is also the issue of intergenerational justice, that is not living beyond our means and leaving the problems for the next generation to deal with. We have professional obligations of leadership and advocacy on this issue, and it makes good economic and management sense to reduce environmental damage. Finally, there is the question of self-interest. If we do not change the trajectory of global warming, we face an existential threat in the not-too-distant future. We currently lack data on how to most effectively reduce the environmental impact of digestive health practice and we even lack a clear vision of what sustainable care might look like. However, that is being remedied and in the meantime it should not stop us beginning to take action, which is urgently needed as the climate crisis continues to gather momentum.