Planetary Health: Should We Care?

The delivery of radiologic services and other health care produces a large amount of environmental pollution, which increases human morbidity and mortality. Planetary health looks for sustainable strategies to deliver high-quality health care and reduce environmental impact. Radiologists should consider the sustainability and resilience of their practice in the face of limited natural resources and increasing extreme weather events. Additionally, there is a strong business case for including planetary health in radiology given the financial benefits of sustainability efforts. The extent of radiology’s environmental impact and the central role radiologists play in patient care should encourage radiologists to lead these efforts in health care.