The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) has released a report that sheds light on actions and opportunities radiologists can take to address climate change, and why they should care about their impact on the environment.

The report, published in Radiology, showcases how radiology’s role presents an opportunity to lead low-carbon, sustainable initiatives in workplaces and communities.

The health care system, including the field of radiology, is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions: medical imaging is estimated to account for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, RSNA reports. To that end, there is a growing movement to alter health care’s environmental practices to minimize harm and protect public health.

“The focus is on actions and opportunities to address climate change in our role as radiologists and to link our actions with their impact and expected outcome,” said the report’s senior author Dr. Kate Hanneman, associate professor in the Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto and sustainability lead at University Medical Imaging Toronto. “Because radiologists are adept at managing rapid technological change, we are ideally positioned to lead these initiatives within our departments, health care systems, and communities.”

Access more information in RSNA’s news article.