The European Society of Radiology (ESR) and 10 leading international radiology societies have issued a position paper and call to action on sustainability in radiology.
While radiology plays a crucial role in healthcare, it also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and medical waste, and the paper calls for collaborative efforts across the medical imaging community to drive impactful change, particularly in research, education, and industry innovation, the ESR said.
“Radiology is at the forefront of medical innovation, and we must lead the way in developing sustainable imaging solutions that balance patient care with environmental responsibility,” noted ECR 2025 President Prof. Andrea Rockall in a news release.
Key recommendations from the paper include the following:
- Climate literacy should be integrated into radiology education and training.
- Research on the environmental impact of imaging technologies must be prioritized.
- Sustainable practices should be adopted in radiology departments worldwide.
- Stronger industry partnerships are needed to improve equipment efficiency and reduce waste.
- Equitable access to radiology services must be ensured, especially in low-resource settings.
The position paper is supported by the American College of Radiology, the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology, the African Society of Radiology, the Canadian Association of Radiologists, the Colegio Interamericano de Radiología, the Egyptian Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, the International Society of Radiology, the International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, and RSNA.
The full position paper is available in European Radiology and other partner journals.
