The role of higher education in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences in addressing global warming: A personal perspective

Author: Kenji Sugibayashi

Category: Pharmacy

Abstract:

Climate change and global warming are critical issues facing humanity today, leading to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, ecosystem impacts, infectious diseases, and food crises. Over the past 130 years, human activities like deforestation and fossil fuel usage have steadily increased greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in global warming. High temperatures contribute to health risks including asthma-related deaths, infectious diseases, malnutrition, diarrhea, and mental disorders. Addressing these challenges necessitates prioritizing the development of human resources in higher education, including pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. This paper explains the current issues of global warming and proposes a few subjects tailored to pharmacy education. The integration of contemporary information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital tools is essential for pharmacy education for mitigating global warming. Additionally, low CO₂ emission drug development and therapies hold significance for the future. These endeavors will equip forthcoming generations to tackle climate shifts and construct a sustainable, robust world.

Keywords: global warming, natural disasters, greenhouse gases, diseases, pharmacy education