The CAR Journal (CARJ) is taking on the most pressing concern of our time by focusing the November 2025 issue on climate change and how the energy consumption of radiology and healthcare factors into the health of our planet.

Dr. Kate Hanneman is one of Canada’s leading advocates of environmental research in radiology, having published several articles on the topic and delivered a Plenary Session presentation on sustainability in radiology at CAR 2024. She was invited to be Guest Editor and says it is a critical topic that necessitated a dedicated issue of the CAR Journal.

“Climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21^st century, and healthcare, including radiology, contributes to that burden. Imaging accounts for up to 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it essential for radiology to be part of the solution,” she said. “This special issue builds on national and international calls to action and highlights how radiology can lead in creating climate-resilient, low-carbon, and equitable health systems.”

The research in the November issue demonstrates that sustainability in radiology is central to other measurable outcomes, she said.

“This initiative brought together Canadian and international experts across diagnostic and interventional imaging to explore practical, evidence-based solutions. It differs from other special issues focused on organ-specific imaging, by linking environmental science, clinical care, and innovation, and by emphasizing that sustainability is a core element of quality and safety in radiology.”

While Dr. Hanneman and the CAR have been at the forefront of this area of research, existing studies on radiology’s environmental impact are growing in number and increasing in quality.

“Studies now quantify energy use, equipment life-cycle emissions, and the impact of mitigation strategies such as powering down imaging equipment and abbreviated imaging protocols,” said Dr. Hanneman. “At the same time, medical imaging is increasingly used to study the health effects of environmental exposures like air pollution and heat, linking sustainability directly to patient outcomes.”

She explained that readers will find practical guidance for integrating sustainability into everyday radiology practice in the issue, including ways to reduce energy use, waste, and emissions while advancing innovation and resilience.

“The articles demonstrate that sustainable radiology is achievable today and essential for protecting both patient and planetary health.”