Advancing an environmentally responsible physiotherapy

 

The world faces complex and interrelated crises… Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, rapid urbanization, geopolitical conflict and militarization, demographic change, population displacement, poverty, and widespread inequity create risks of future crises even more severe than those experienced today. Responses require investments that integrate planetary, societal, community and individual health and well-being (WHO 2021 Geneva Charter for Wellbeing)

 

 The impact of human activities on our planet’s natural systems has been intensifying rapidly in the past several decades, leading to disruption and transformation of most natural systems. These disruptions in the atmosphere, oceans, and across the terrestrial land surface are not only driving species to extinction, they pose serious threats to human health and wellbeing. Characterising and addressing these threats requires a paradigm shift (Myers, 2017)

Action at the level of direct drivers of nature decline, although necessary, is not sufficient … a sustainable global future’ is ‘only possible with urgent transformative change that tackles the root causes: the interconnected economic, socio-cultural, demographic, political, institutional, and technological indirect drivers behind the direct drivers (Diaz et al., 2019)

About

An international community of academics, clinicians, practitioners and students interested in exploring and advancing the field of environmental physiotherapy. 

Blog

Follow our latest musings on environmental physiotherapy. Ideas, inspiration, news, publications, events, and more. 

Join

Become part of the first international community of physiotherapists with an interest in researching, developing, and practising physiotherapy at a planetary scale. 

Resources

A growing selection of resources carefully selected by members of the EPA to inspire your thinking and practice of environmental physiotherapy. 

Park prescriptions: Moving toward greener and more socially just healthcare

Green space is not as accessible as you think Since cities started developing in North America, there has been a move to create designated green spaces, both in and outside of urban centers. Although the intention behind these efforts seems pure, the practice of...

From Soil to Soul – Nature-based learning at Qatar University

In the spring 2025 semester, Qatar University (QU) Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (DRS) Physiotherapy students (class of 2026) engaged in a series of nature-based mindfulness activities, which we designed and delivered in order to deepen our connection with...

Healthpunk Vol 2: Healthcare + Fiction + You

'Tis the season to imagine new ways forward for more ecologically and socially responsible healthcare futures! One year after the publication of Physiopunk Vol 1, we are happy to share Healthpunk Vol 2: Fiction + Healthcare + You: A collection boasting 10 Healthpunk...

【開催レポート】環境理学療法座談会 in Japan 2025

~気候危機がもたらす臨床の変化と、リハビリテーション専門職の新たな役割~ 2025年11月20日(木)、環境理学療法協会(Environmental Physiotherapy Association: EPA)が主催する「EPA regions roundtables in Japan」がオンラインにて開催されました。本イベントは、EPAが世界各地で同日に開催するグローバルイベントの一環であり、日本国内のみならず海外在住の理学療法士も含め、16名が集まりました。開催の背景と基調講演  ...

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