Sustainable radiation oncology in a world with grand environmental and societal challenges: Society Matters - A new section in the Green Journal

Abstract

Our world faces transformative challenges that will shape the trajectory of healthcare, including radiation oncology, in the coming decades. Our society will need to adapt to global forces, continuously changing in an era of rapid technological change, a warming planet, changing demographics, economic uncertainty, and global conflicts. The new Society Matters section is an initiative from the Green Journal, which will focus on radiation oncology in a societal frame. As its full title clearly states, 'Society Matters - Sustainability, Education and Health Care Policy" aims to strengthen the radiation oncology profession and the radiation oncology community by being a platform for research, communication, debate, and dialogue within professional and societal matters such as environmental sustainability, social sustainability (equity, diversity, and inclusion), education, health economics, and health care policy. As a kick-off for the new section, this paper discusses sustainable radiation oncology in a world of change. It also aims to present the scope of articles of interest for the new section.

Keywords: Environment; Radiation oncology; Society; Sustainability.