Addressing Code Red for humans and the planet: We are in this together

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health. It is not surprising that following one of the hottest years on record (2019) and wildfires on almost all continents that the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the 2021 Lancet Countdown on Climate Change identified a Code Red for humanity and for a healthy future. In addition, just prior to the November 2021 Conference of the Parties (COP26), the World Health Organization released its Special Report, The Health Argument for Climate Action, in which the global health community provided 10 recommendations for policymakers and governments for greener, cleaner and more sustainable action to ensure a healthy and just future. There is thus an urgent need for socially and environmentally accountable health professions education to pick up the pace in terms of climate change, planetary health and/or sustainable health care integration in curricula. Considerable work has already been undertaken by faculty and students. As we are in this together, students and faculty can collaborate and build upon the work already undertaken to ensure universities are social and environmentally accountable.

Keywords: Medical education; planetary health education.