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['Is there a doctor on board?' Reducing air travel associated with international medical conferences].

Authors :
Cohen ES
Timmermans A
Hehenkamp WJK
Source :
Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde [Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd] 2023 May 23; Vol. 167. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 23.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

International medical conferences aim to improve health outcomes, but the associated air travel-related carbon emissions are a significant contributor to the environmental impact of medical scientific activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has urged the medical world to shift towards virtual conferences, decreasing associated carbon emissions by 94% to 99%. However, virtual conferences are still not the norm and doctors are returning to business as usual. Various stakeholders need to be mobilized to minimize carbon-intensive flights to conferences. Doctors, (academic) hospitals, conference organizers and universities all hold a responsibility to incorporate every effort to decarbonize and build climate mitigation into their decisions. These efforts include sustainable travel policies, selecting accessible venues, decentralizing host locations, encouraging low carbon alternatives to air travel, increasing virtual attendance and increasing awareness.

Details

Language :
Dutch; Flemish
ISSN :
1876-8784
Volume :
167
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
37235587