Framework for Environmentally Sustainable Radiology: Call for Collaborative Action and a Health-Centered Focus

Radiology, vol. 315, pp. e250070

Abstract

It is imperative that the entire medical imaging sector acts collectively and decisively to reduce its own environmental impact and prepare for the current and future effects of the climate crisis. The Radiology R7 meeting convened in Venice, Italy, on October 10-13, 2024 to discuss environmental sustainability and other key issues facing radiology and the patients served by medical imaging. Radiology R7 delegates agree that collaborative action is urgently needed to transform radiology systems to be climate-resilient, equitable, low-carbon, and sustainable. This special report highlights priorities and outlines a framework for environmentally sustainable radiology, centered on eight collaborative action areas. A health-centered response reinforces the role of radiologists as physicians, emphasizes the opportunity for medical imaging to improve health, and will be essential to engage key partners in climate action. Effective leadership and governance are needed to ensure that radiology services are accessible, equitable, affordable, high quality and sustainable. Collaboration and partnership are essential to achieve meaningful change. Health equity should be prioritized to increase global access to high quality radiology services while minimizing the environmental impact. Multiple climate response pathways should be implemented in parallel including mitigation strategies to reduce the use of energy, finite resources and waste and adaptation strategies to build resilience to the effects of climate change. Innovation and research are necessary to develop, validate, and implement sustainable solutions. Finally, knowledge sharing, education, and training are needed to disseminate information on actions toward environmentally sustainable radiology practices. We all have a role to play and must work together to achieve these aims quickly by identifying the problem, setting goals, implementing a plan, measuring impact, sharing results, and celebrating successes.

Authors 20

1. Kate A Hanneman

   University Health Network · University of Toronto · Women's College Hospital · Sinai Health System

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, and Women's College Hospital, 585 University Ave, 1 PMB-298, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2N2

   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, and Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

   University of Toronto, Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2. Isabelle Redenius
   Affiliation as printed

   Evidia MVZ, Braunschweig, Germany

3. Marc Dewey

   Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

   Department of Radiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

4. Ania Zofia Kielar

   University Health Network · University of Toronto · Women's College Hospital · Sinai Health System

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, and Women's College Hospital, 585 University Ave, 1 PMB-298, Toronto, ON, Canada M5G 2N2

   Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University Health Network, Sinai Health System, and Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

   University of Toronto, Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

5. Julian Dobranowski

   McMaster University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

   Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

6. Marie‐France Bellin

   Université Paris-Saclay · Bicêtre Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   University Hospital Bicêtre, University Paris-Saclay, BioMaps, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France

   University Hospital Bicêtre, University Paris-Saclay, BioMaps, France

7. Jean‐Pierre Tasu

   Inserm · Université de Bretagne Occidentale · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Poitiers · Laboratoire de Traitement de l'Information Médicale · Université de Bretagne Occidentale

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnosis and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Poitiers, Poitiers, France; LaTIM, INSERM UMR 1101, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, UBO, Brest, France

8. Noriko Aida

   Kanagawa Children's Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan

9. Masahiro Jinzaki

   Keio University

   Affiliation as printed

   Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan

10. Noriyuki Tomiyama

    The University of Osaka

    Affiliation as printed

    Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

11. Katharine E. Halliday

    Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

    Affiliation as printed

    Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK

12. Stephen P. Harden

    University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust · University of Southampton

    Affiliation as printed

    University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK

    University Hospital Southampton, UK

13. Oliver Reichardt

    Royal College of Radiologists

    Affiliation as printed

    The Royal College of Radiologists, London, UK

14. Carlo Catalano

    Policlinico Umberto I · Sapienza University of Rome

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

15. Konstantin Nikolaou

    Universitätsklinikum Tübingen · University of Tübingen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

16. Christiane Katharina Kuhl Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

    Universitätsklinikum Aachen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, UKA, Aachen, Germany

    Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Aachen, UKA, Germany

17. Curtis P. Langlotz

    Stanford Medicine · Stanford University

    Affiliation as printed

    Departments of Radiology, Medicine, and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif

    Departments of Radiology, Medicine, and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

18. Umar Mahmood

    Harvard University · Massachusetts General Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass

    Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

19. Nicoletta G. Gandolfo
    Affiliation as printed

    S.C. Radiologia e Dip. Diagnostica per Immagini, ASL 3, Genova, Italy

20. Andrea Giovagnoni

    Marche Polytechnic University

    Affiliation as printed

    Polytechnical University Marche, Ancona, Italy