The time for action is now

With the current global climate emergency, the 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report has made it clear that immediate action is required. Global temperature increases pose a significant risk to health on a population level, and it is imperative that healthcare professionals advocate for climate action. In order to address this crisis, multiple strategies need to be implemented in order to reach a target of net zero health care emissions.

Trainee-led Research and Audit for Sustainability in Healthcare Canada (TRASH-CAN) is a new initiative that has the goal of reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of all aspects of healthcare while upholding the highest standards of patient care.

It is inspired by www.tra2sh.org which operates out of Australia and New Zealand, but is the first of its kind in Canada. Through launching this initiative, we hope to develop and implement a scalable curriculum that can be replicated at various institutions across Canada.