Climate change for gastroenterologists: understanding the basics

Abstract

The healthcare sector is a significant producer of greenhouse gas emissions. Gases that contribute to climate change include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons. Climate change will impact the types and prevalence of diseases seen in clinical practice. Practising preventive medicine in gastroenterology can protect population health and reduce the need for health services, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the health sector. Increasing patient empowerment, making care pathways leaner and minimising the environmental impact of treatments and interventions could also make healthcare more sustainable.