Rising to the climate challenge: Integrating climate action in the undergraduate curriculum

• Published in: Australian journal of advanced nursing Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 1 - 2
• Main Authors: Best, Odette, Tutticci, Naomi, Heart, Diane, Lokmic-Tomkins, Zerina, Ward, Aletha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation 01.06.2023; Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation
• Subjects: Accreditation; Carbon; Climate change; Climatic changes; College students; Core curriculum; Councils; Critical thinking; Curricula; Emissions; Emissions (Pollution); Empowerment; Environmental health; Environmental protection; Global temperature changes; Health aspects; Health care; Health education; Health literacy; Holistic nursing; Midwifery; Nurses; Nursing; Nursing education; Nursing schools; Public health; Students; Study and teaching; Sustainable development; Australia; Queensland Australia
• ISSN: 1447-4328; 0813-0531; 1447-4328
• DOI: 10.37464/2023.403.1266

The planet is no longer in equilibrium and cannot compensate for carbon emissions.1 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identihed the emerging impacts of climate change as a 'code red for humanity'.2 The health impacts of climate change are already being experienced by communities, and the impact is expected to widen and escalate over time, making planetary health an emerging and urgent trend within healthcare. The content of a stand-alone subject would introduce basic concepts of the Earth's climate science into nursing curricula, along with strategies to assess climate information, responsibly communicate about climate issues, and make informed decisions about mitigation and adaptation.8 The content would also equip nursing students with skills to make decisions in the context of sustainable healthcare, perhaps by considering issues such as energy conservation, reducing clinical waste, and improving the recycling of healthcare products. Additionally, Harvard Medical School has launched a Climate Doctor of Medicine program which focuses on the health care effects of climate change and prepares a climate ready medical workforce. [...]the well-established nursing practice partnership between critical thinking and quality evidence for problem solving could be applied to the challenging problem of the carbon footprint of the health system.3,5 When it comes to the planet's health and adapting to climate change impacts, individual action is not enough.