Environmental stewardship and healthcare: global reflections for radiology

Greenhouse gas emissions are the cause of climate change and have become a major health concern. The healthcare industry is a significant part of the problem, especially in highly industrialized countries. China, the European Union and the United States account for 56% of global greenhouse gas emissions from the healthcare sector. Advanced medical imaging technology, pharmaceuticals, single-use medical products, and even travel by patients to the healthcare facilities consume energy and generate waste. With the increased use of medical imaging and the development of new image-guided procedures, radiology has also become a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Countermeasures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining or improving the quality of radiology services is a challenge we must all address. Just as scientific advances come from all parts of the world, solutions to this problem are likely to come from many sources. Professional radiology societies provide a forum for discussion, and radiology journals offer a venue for scientific review and knowledge dissemination. It is time for the medical imaging community to work together to achieve environmental sustainability.