Zi Long Chow¹

¹Pathology Queensland Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia

Abstract:
Sustainability and climate change is gaining importance in the medical profession. Based on the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, the healthcare sector is responsible for 4.6% of global greenhouse gas, which makes it the fifth largest emitting “country”. The RCPA has published a recent guideline on “Environmental Sustainability in Pathology Laboratories” in April 2024 and endorsed the joint statement "Working together to achieve sustainable high-quality health care in a changing climate" with 15 other Australasian medical colleges. This review aims to broadly cover issues and solutions relating to Anatomical Pathology, climate change and sustainability. With climate change exacerbating the healthcare system’s challenge of meeting increasing demand, there remain solutions which could bring about positive changes to the status quo through rethinking, reducing, reusing and recycling. Aside from the benefits of reducing carbon footprint, strategies in environmental stewardship can help to cut cost, reduce waste, and insulate from supply shortages. Pathologists and trainees should be aware of how sustainability and climate change can affect their practice. As there is a paucity of studies in the current literature, more studies are required to inform safe and sustainable practices.