Heart Podcast Planetary health meets cardiology: A call to action
Nov 18, 2025
Dr. Frances Varian, a cardiology registrar and geography graduate, shares her expertise on the intersection of climate change and cardiovascular health. She highlights the significant impact of air pollution on heart disease and discusses the urgent need for sustainable dietary practices. Frances breaks down cardiology's environmental footprint, including the effects of single-use plastics and trial emissions. She advocates for lifecycle assessments in healthcare and practical steps clinicians can take for a greener approach. Her insights emphasize that sustainability is integral to patient-centered care.
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From Geography To Green Cardiology
- Frances Varian combined a geography degree with medical training and joined her hospital's green team when the UK set a net zero target.
- Her PhD on decentralized clinical trials includes emissions modelling to identify trial emissions hotspots.
Climate Change As A Symptom
- Climate change is best framed as a symptom driven by fossil fuels and unsustainable food systems, not just an isolated problem.
- Treating root causes offers dual benefits for planetary and human health.
Air Pollution's Cardiovascular Toll
- Air pollution causes about 8 million deaths annually and two thirds are cardiovascular.
- In the UK it drives ~30,000 deaths and large economic losses from healthcare and lost productivity.
