Environmental Sustainability in Veterinary Medicine: An Opportunity for Teaching Hospitals

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest public health threats of the twenty-first century. Recent surveys of veterinary students and practicing veterinarians have highlighted their concerns about the impacts of climate change on animal health and a strong desire to be knowledgeable about the practice and promotion of environmental sustainability within clinical practice. Most American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)–accredited veterinary schools have a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) where veterinary students receive their core clinical education. Given this, VTHs may provide opportunities for students to learn how veterinary clinics can decrease their environmental footprint and actions they could incorporate into their future clinical work. To assess the feasibility of and support for introducing environmentally sustainable practices into VTHs, we distributed an anonymous online survey to all AVMA-accredited veterinary schools with an associated VTH. Responses were received from 843 individuals representing 23 VTHs in 7 countries. While the overwhelming majority of responding personnel believe this is an important topic, there is little evidence that sustainable behaviors are being practiced or showcased within VTHs. Respondents were most interested in working to increase recycling and reduce general waste and energy consumption within their hospitals. In addition to a lack of educational resources, funding was a commonly identified barrier to incorporating more environmentally sustainable practices. These results add to the growing evidence that enhanced incorporation of sustainability into veterinary medical education at all stages is needed and that VTHs provide a unique opportunity to lead by example.

Influence of age, gender, and willingness to adopt former foodstuffs on the perception of Italian farm animal veterinarians

“…In relation to the environmental sustainability, there is limited research on alternative and sustainable feed options in the veterinarian sector (47). The limited existing literature on the matter indicates a high level of interest in environmental sustainability from different stakeholders and highlights the lack of educational programs on the subject at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (22,(48)(49)(50).…”

Editorial: One Health and Veterinary Regenerative Medicine: Translational Applications

“…Perhaps identifying a significant gap in current regenerative medicine practices and priorities, no papers were submitted addressing sustainability. This gap has similarly been identified across the veterinary medical field and is an area of need and opportunity for meaningful impact (4,5). Current novel regenerative therapies are frequently very resource intensive, using large amounts of expensive and non-recyclable raw materials.…”

Sustainability policies and practices at veterinary centres in the UK and Republic of Ireland

“…Many of the day-to-day actions of veterinary professionals listed in Table 1, such as the delivery of clinical and public health services, are extensively documented 39 and can contribute directly to the VSGs/SDGs. 40,41 However, other potential contributions, such as reducing the environmental impacts of veterinary services, are characterised by a nascent body of literature, 27,33,[42][43][44][45][46][47][48] individual cases of exemplary practice, 49 and a growing but fragmented movement of voluntary support, education, information and labelling schemes. Such programmes include the involvement of professional bodies in environmental consortia, 50 the appointment of sustainability specialists and publication of sustainability reports by practice groups, [51][52][53][54][55] professional environmental training, guidance and self-assessments, [56][57][58] undergraduate curriculum projects, 59 environmental accreditation schemes, 36,37 antibiotic stewardship training, awards and guidance, [60][61][62][63] animal welfare accreditation schemes, 64 workplace wellbeing guidelines and accreditations 36,65 and mental health support.…”