Speech Pathology and Sustainability

Sustainable healthcare refers to addressing the current population’s health needs without compromising the health of future generations. It acknowledges that human health and the environment are interconnected and cannot be considered separately.

The ways in which healthcare services operate can directly impact the health of the planet, and vice versa. For example, extreme weather events, air quality, and food production all influence human health and the capacity and resilience of health systems. Excess heat can cause cumulative physiological stress, extreme weather can affect mental and psychosocial health, and air pollution contributes to respiratory disease.