To the Editor: Congratulations to the Medical Journal of Australia for emphasising the role of health professionals in needing to lead by example towards a sustainable future. Talley's editorial1 encourages health care professionals to reduce health care's own carbon footprint and pollution, noting that, “With a concerted effort, the Australian health system could achieve zero net emissions and relatively soon, and we applaud all the ongoing state initiatives”.
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- 1. Talley NJ. A sustainable future in health: ensuring as health professionals our own house is in order and leading by example. Med J Aust 2020; 212: 344. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/212/8/sustainable-future-health-ensuring-health-professionals-our-own-house-order-and
- 2. Victorian Government, Department of Health. Environmental sustainability strategy 2018–19 to 2022–23. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/environmental-sustainability-strategy-2018-19-to-2022-23 (viewed May 2020).
- 3. Pencheon D. Developing a sustainable health care system: the United Kingdom experience. Med J Aust 2018; 208: 284–285. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/208/7/developing-sustainable-health-care-system-united-kingdom-experience
- 4. Australian Medical Association. Environmental sustainability in health care — 2019. https://ama.com.au/position-statement/environmental-sustainability-health-care-2019 (viewed May 2020).
- 5. Doctors for the Environment Australia. An Australian Healthcare Sustainability Unit (HSU) — DEA proposal. https://www.dea.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DEA-HSU-Proposal—Final-01-19.pdf (viewed May 2020).
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