Celebrating Australian nurses who are championing planetary health and sustainable practice: A compilation of case studies
Levett-Jones, T
Bonnamy, J
Cornish, J
Correia Moll FHEA, E
Fields, L
Moroney, T
Richards, C
Tutticci, N
Ward, A
Bonnamy, J
Cornish, J
Correia Moll FHEA, E
Fields, L
Moroney, T
Richards, C
Tutticci, N
Ward, A
- Publication Type:
- Internet Publication
- Citation:
- 2023
- Issue Date:
- 2023-11-30
Open Access
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Open Access
This item is open access.
As human driven industrial activity and animal agriculture has amplified, greenhouse gas emission levels and global temperatures have significantly increased1. This has caused catastrophic environmental disruption and become a critical threat to human health.
Despite being at the forefront of responding to the
impacts of climate change, healthcare is also contributing significantly to carbon emissions. In response, many Australian organisations have developed sustainability and emissions reduction strategies with a number aiming to be
Net Zero over the next 15-20 years. While it is encouraging to see healthcare leaders with bold strategies aimed at mitigating and addressing the impacts of climate change on health, more nursing leaders and role models are needed to champion sustainability initiatives.
Nurses are well positioned to drive sustainability agendas as they comprise the largest healthcare disciplinary group and are a highly trusted profession4. Indeed, the links between the environment and nursing practice have been established for centuries. Yet, the nursing response to climate change has typically been slow with few nurses considering themselves to be change agents for planetary health. This is partly due to historic conceptualisations of the profession that have centred the nursing response on ‘downstream’ measures7, instead of systemic upstream
approaches. However, nurses’ holistic approach to health along with their understanding of how climate change disproportionally affects those who are most vulnerable, gives them a unique perspective and allows them to identify creative solutions and advocate for policies that address climate justice issues.
While some nurses are pioneering local changes and
implementing planetary health innovations well ahead of
the curb, only a select few are sharing their trailblazing
work. This lack of visible nursing role models is problematic, especially for future nurses, as ‘you cannot be what you cannot see.
This report showcases nurses who are leading successful initiatives designed to have a positive impact on healthcare sustainability, climate change and planetary health.
We interviewed nurses from four Australian States who
are working in clinical, organisational and educational
roles. The inspirational models of innovation they describe will help healthcare and educational organisations to re-imagine the role of all nurses in championing healthcare sustainability initiatives.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: