SUSTAINABLE MEDICAL TRAINING: STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Climate change represents a pressing global health challenge, affecting human health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and socioeconomic systems worldwide. Paradoxically, the healthcare sector—tasked with mitigating climate-related health impacts—contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 4.4% of global emissions according to the World Health Organization. Major sources include hospital operations, medical equipment and pharmaceutical production, transportation, waste management, research, and educational activities. In high-income countries and populous developing nations, healthcare-related emissions can constitute around 5% of national carbon outputs. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted strategies to reduce environmental impacts within healthcare, particularly in medical training programs, which play a central role in shaping sustainable healthcare practices. Implementing effective mitigation strategies in medical education can foster a generation of healthcare professionals equipped to deliver care while minimizing environmental harm.
| Journal | Columbia Journal of Medical Research and Practice |
| ISSN | 3065-0631 |
| Volume / Issue | Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026) |
| Pages | 16-22 |
| Published | 27 January 2026 |
| DOI | 10.5281/zenodo.19660646 |
| Access | Open Access |
| License | CC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution |
| Publisher | Keith Publications |
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