Why are doctors ushering in the climate change movement?

Climate change has been a matter of concern for many years. After successful conferences conducted by the UN, we have seen changes, but still have a long way to go. The frequency of droughts, earthquakes, storms, wildfires, etc. is increasing at a dangerous rate. But over the years many things have changed. Citizens have made sustainability a priority, the globe is witnessing an outcry and most importantly doctors are turning out to be leaders of the movement. The shift in temperatures is compromising humankind in 2 ways. First, global warming is leading to the gradual destruction of the planet, and secondly, the well-being of not only homo sapiens but animals as well as insects are also getting affected.

It has been already proven that humanity lives in an ecosystem. If nature is degraded or negatively impacted the first and foremost effect is felt by us. For example, the use of insecticides and chemicals is causing a fall in the number of bees. This will directly affect apples, melons, pears, and berries, (mainly blueberries and cherries) as they rely on bees for pollination. Other plants can face a decline in the quality of seeds thus, disturbing the ecosystem. The footprint of damage to nature will transcend to reach us.

How doctors can help?

The involvement of doctors is not surprising because India’s largest ever survey conducted among healthcare personnel has made a major revelation – the medical sector is very crucial in the fight against climate change. The study makes it quite evident that the health sector leaders want to be in the front row of the fight against boiling. The founder trustee of the Lung Care Foundation Dr. Arvind Kumar says that the Indian Health Care sector can greatly add to reducing the effects of global warming by using green technologies to reduce various greenhouse gas emissions. The survey brings to light a point that the members of this sector are conscious of the thawing, with doctors topping the list and nurses at the lowest level but with a score of 90% roughly. The study also uncovers a fact that the soaring temperatures are affecting the health of people. This is increasing the possibility of climate-sensitive diseases while impacting the personnel and infrastructure.

Findings of the study

The study conducted by the Healthy Energy Initiative in association with Morsel India stated that the students want to be part of the fight opposing climate change. However, it also magnifies another issue that a lot of work must be done to make the health care system adaptable to changing needs of sustainable development. The studies have brought the opportunity of ‘engaging the health sector professionals to adopt climate change mitigation along with adaptation and risk reduction practices’ to the limelight and moving on the path of climate buoyancy. Government should make the early warning systems work to get better information on the diseases caused by changes in the surroundings while the administration must facilitate a robust collaboration between departments to maintain a sufficient supply of manpower and medicines. Top-of-the-line health infrastructure to combat the impacts of climate change must be designed for a better diagnosis and prognosis to take the needed action.

Overall if we observe, the studies and surveys have proven that the involvement of the medical world to fight climate change is essential. Medicine practitioners play a very crucial role in defying the environmental breakdown. Also, the exploration recommends ways in which capacity can be built among professionals and the assessment advocates the need to provide information on how our health can be impacted by climate change.

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