THE RELATIONSHIP between urological diseases and climate change is an emerging area of concern, requiring urgent attention. Climate change is expected to increase the incidence and severity of urological cancers due to heightened exposure to environmental risk factors such as air pollution, wildfires, and water contamination. Simultaneously, it poses a threat to cancer care delivery, potentially leading to disruptions in treatment, medical supply chains, and healthcare infrastructure.
Benign urological conditions are also influenced by climate change as research indicates a correlation between rising temperatures, heat waves, and dehydration-related conditions, including urolithiasis and renal injuries. Additionally, climate change facilitates the spread of infectious and vector-borne diseases, further impacting urological health. The long-term management of urological diseases often necessitates high-tech, resource-intensive procedures, including robotic surgery and frequent medical evaluations. These processes contribute significantly to healthcare’s carbon footprint, generate substantial medical waste, and may be vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.
Planetary health, which connects human well-being with the health of natural ecosystems, is intricately linked to urological care. The increasing burden of climate change-related urological diseases underscores the need for sustainable and resilient healthcare strategies. Key areas of focus include minimising medical waste, reducing carbon emissions, and adopting healthcare delivery models that are less environmentally harmful.
Several strategies can support these goals including the expansion of telemedicine can reduce the need for travel-related emissions while maintaining patient care. Efforts to eliminate low-value medical interventions can also lower resource consumption without compromising patient outcomes. Furthermore, improving infrastructure resilience to withstand climate-related disasters is essential to ensuring continuity in urological care.
Future research should further explore the epidemiological links between climate change and urological disease pathogenesis. Identifying specific environmental exposures that contribute to disease onset and progression can inform policy changes and preventive measures. Additionally, policymakers must evaluate and implement sustainable healthcare practices that balance medical efficacy with environmental responsibility.
As climate change continues to impact global health, prioritising environmentally sustainable and resilient healthcare systems will be crucial. The urological community has an opportunity to lead by example, adopting innovative solutions that address both patient needs and the broader challenge of mitigating healthcare’s environmental footprint.
Katie Wright, EMJ
Reference
Cole AP et al. Urology on a changing planet: links between climate change and urological disease. Nat Rev Urol. 2025;DOI:10.1038/s41585-024-00979-4.
