BMJ  2007;334:324-325 (17 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39125.468171.80

Editorials

Reducing the carbon footprint of medical conferences

Doctors must lead by example

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published earlier this month, leaves no room for complacency.¹ It makes clear that warming of the climate system is unequivocal and that the increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is most likely due to increased human induced greenhouse gas emissions. It also states that warming and resultant sea level rises will continue for centuries even if emissions are stabilised. When scientific consensus reads like this, we are in trouble. The time to act is now.

The threat to human health from climate change—through malnutrition, disease, and flooding—is substantial, and in some parts of the world, immediate.² Most of the health burden of climate change is borne by children in developing countries.² It is ironic that doctors, for whom protecting health is a primary responsibility, contribute to global warming through unnecessary attendances at international conferences.

Lord . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, ² BMJ, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Are international medical conferences an outdated luxury the planet can’t afford? Yes

Malcolm Green
BMJ 2008 336: 1466. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Are international medical conferences an outdated luxury the planet can’t afford? No

James Owen Drife
BMJ 2008 336: 1467. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Tracking the editor's carbon footprint

Balaji Ravichandran
BMJ 2007 334: 509. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Another inconvenient truth?

Julian Crane and Brent Caldwell
BMJ 2006 333: 1256. [Extract] [Full Text]

Climate change and human health in Europe

R Sari Kovats, Andrew Haines, Rosalind Stanwell-Smith, Pim Martens, Bettina Menne, and Roberto Bertollini
BMJ 1999 318: 1682-1685. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Green, M. (2008). Are international medical conferences an outdated luxury the planet can't afford? Yes. BMJ 336: 1466-1466 [Full text]  
• Drife, J. O. (2008). Are international medical conferences an outdated luxury the planet can't afford? No. BMJ 336: 1467-1467 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Travel Rationing

John R Moloney
bmj.com, 16 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Let's Not Forget the Beef and Cheese Centered Dinners

John McDougall, MD
bmj.com, 17 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Timely editorial

Aileen A O'Brien
bmj.com, 19 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Reduce Waste

Jeff Brock
bmj.com, 20 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Climate Change and Medicine

Ole Faergeman
bmj.com, 20 Feb 2007 [Full text]

Choice of venue

Danielle M Wheeler
bmj.com, 13 Mar 2007 [Full text]