Education curricula should support the development of environmentally literate nurses

Abstract

Context Changes in the climate system as a direct consequence of human activities cause severe weather conditions, which adversely impact on human health. Nurses are the largest healthcare profession in the world and have the potential to significantly address the effects of climate change, in multiple ways, including reducing the world’s healthcare footprint, currently ‘4.4% of global net emissions’. Incorporating formal education within nursing curricula, on the health impact of climate change, is key to raising social awareness and developing evidenced actions to mitigate climate change.