Medical Students’ Perspectives on Integrating Climate Change and Planetary Health into Medical Curricula: A Qualitative Study

Background Climate change is a global health emergency that affects both physical and mental health. Some of these reasons are heat stress, spread of vector borne diseases and nutritional deficiencies. As health care systems face growing demands, future healthcare professionals must be prepared to respond, adapt and support mitigation. This research aimed to explore medical students’ perspectives on climate change and its relationship to health, perceived gaps in the medical curriculum, their role as future physicians in climate action and potential approaches for integration. Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 20 medical students in Singapore. Interviews explored perceptions of climate change, climate–health links, the role climate education in medical training and professional role as physician. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Participants linked climate change to physical and mental health harms, especially among vulnerable populations, and recognised healthcare’s dual role in both treating and contributing to climate burden. However, climate change was perceived as distant, climate-health education was limited, and students were uncertain about their future professional responsibilities. Many reported anxiety about the future and cited lack of control, competing curricular demands, and infection-control concerns as barriers. Students supported integrating climate-health into clinical teaching as a practical, skills-based topic, even if not formally examinable, and called for clear guidance on professional responsibilities. Conclusion Medical students view climate change as clinically relevant but underrepresented in training. Embedding applied climate-health education and defining professional responsibilities within the curriculum may better prepare physicians for the evolving health challenges of a warming world.