Planetary Health for Rheumatology

Welcome to Planetary Health for Rheumatology

The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) is proud to present the new planetary health toolkit for rheumatology. Sustainable Health Care: An Implementation Guide for Rheumatology is designed to spread awareness and help rheumatology professionals incorporate planetary health principles into their practice spaces, including clinics and infusion centres.

About the Toolkit

The toolkit, Sustainable Health Care: An Implementation Guide for Rheumatology, is an easy-to-read implementation guide that builds on the pioneering work of the Ontario Rheumatology Association (ORA), which created the world’s first rheumatology sustainability toolkit.

Sustainable Health Care: An Implementation Guide for Rheumatology has been developed in English and French to be shared widely among the national rheumatology community for feedback and ideas.

Toolkit Highlights

  • Awareness: Learn about the health impacts caused by the changing climate, and how to mitigate them.
  • Practical Steps: Offers detailed guidance on how to make your practice more sustainable.
  • Bilingual Resource: Available in both English and French to cater to our national rheumatology community.
  • Collaborative Effort: Developed with input from leading experts in rheumatology and sustainability.

Why Planetary Health?

The healthcare sector has a significant carbon footprint, comparable to and likely even higher than the aviation industry in Canada and globally. In order to address members’ environmental concerns and support them in greening their workspaces, the CRA established the Planetary Health Task Force at the beginning of 2024.

We invite you to download/explore the toolkit and join our mission to learn and create more sustainable healthcare environments. Your feedback and ideas are appreciated.

If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas, please email info@rheum.ca.

“This invaluable resource empowers clinicians to integrate environmental considerations into their practice, recognizing the profound impact of the healthcare industry on our planet. I urge members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association and medical professionals to utilize this toolkit, not only as a guide for clinical practice but also as a call to action for a sustainable and health-conscious future. Together, we can lead the way in integrating planetary health into rheumatology!”

Dr. Trudy Taylor
CRA President

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