Climate Action and Sustainability Working Group

Chair: Shilo Lefresne, Philip Wong

• Mandate

  CARO Climate Action and Sustainability Working Group Mandate:

  The Climate Action and Sustainability Working Group’s mission is to engage in the development of low carbon, low waste, climate resilient oncologic services. Members recognize that climate change is adversely impacting human health and that planetary health is intrinsically linked with the development of cancers and the delivery of cancer care. The group will work collaboratively with local, national and international groups to expand and incorporate themes related to sustainable healthcare in line with CARO’s missions.

  Objectives:

  1. Support the education of faculty and learners in planetary health science, encourage the evaluation of the ecologic impact and carbon footprint of health service delivery

  2. Engage and educate patients with cancer, and the public, on the health related impacts of climate change as well as the carbon footprint of cancer care

  3. Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to develop and implement interventions that reduce carbon emissions and waste without compromising quality of patient care

  4. Collaborate with government, funding agencies, and non-governmental organisations to advance environmentally sustainable healthcare

  5. Promote environmental justice principles to decrease health disparities and strategize methods to improve patient accessibility to radiotherapy and virtual care

• Resources

  Sustainable, Socially Responsible Healthcare: A Toolkit for Radiotherapy Professionals.

  This guide has been developed by the CARO Climate Action and Sustainability Working Group in collaboration with the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare, and endorsed by CAMRT, COMP and Environment and Climate Change Canada.

  This toolkit serves as a call to action for all professionals in Radiation Medicine and provides a structured framework to facilitate discussions and implement locally tailored strategies to enhance sustainability and minimize the environmental footprint of radiotherapy, thereby contributing to a healthier future for our patients, communities, and the planet.

  https://greenhealthcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Radiotherapy-Guidebook-EN-March-2025.pdf

  https://greenhealthcare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Radiotherapy-Guidebook-FR-March-2025.pdf