Helping medical students adapt to a changing planet

Abstract

Climate change is a critical health issue for the 21^st century; degradation of our global environment along with a warming planet is rapidly altering the way we provide care in British Columbia. To address this pressing challenge, we need to prepare today’s medical trainees to work in a period where the health effects of climate change will become much more significant. Here, we discuss the necessity of integrating planetary health into the medical curriculum, outline current progress and obstacles in achieving this task, and present a framework in support of this initiative.