Climate change and Environmental awareness: a European working group to study the environmental impact and promote sustainability in Child Neurology

Climate change is happening right now, and this is everyone’s problem. Beside the well-known negative impact on the environment, climate change directly and indirectly causes several health issues, that are more pronounced in low-income countries, in people with low socio-economic status, and in people with chronic and disabling conditions. As scientists, we feel the urge to spread awareness among the general population, and to persuade politicians and stakeholders on the necessity (and opportunities) to tackle climate issues for the sake of our planet. As clinicians, we need to promote our healthcare systems resilience and prevent climate-change related morbidity and mortality. As informed citizens, we must discourage inaction and promote engagement on environmental issues, at all levels: personal, social, financial, educational, political, medical and economical. To reach this target, the Young members of the European Pediatric Neurology Society (EPNS), strongly supported by the general EPNS board, have designed and coordinated the new “Climate change and environmental awareness Working Group”. Our aim is to educate on climate change-related health issues and promote positive actions for reduction of carbon emissions, damage mitigation, and adaptation plans within the field of Pediatric Neurology. Actions include networking with other scientific Societies and Groups for Climate defense (e.g., ILAE Climate change commission), performing literature revision and promoting multicenter studies on climate change-related health issues, estimating the Society carbon footprint (i.e. website, newsletters and in-person events) and foreseeing emissions compensation (e.g. with carbon credits), fostering sustainable alternatives for the biannual Society Congress like reducing paper use, proposing plant-based menus and discouraging international flights (e.g. hybrid in person and web-based congress, and easily-accessible-by-train locations). Climate change is everyone’s problem, and solutions need the effort of many. This is how we take action.