Education
Reading is FUNdamental
Meaningful change is only possible when people have all the information, which is why AVEA priorities education in all of its activities.
We work with universities and veterinary associations to ensure sustainable practices are embedded into curriculum, as well as increasing understanding around sustainable practices via presentations at veterinary conferences worldwide. We engage with media to ensure scientifically sound information reaches the public at any opportunity.
We encourage all practices involved in our Climate Care Program, ZerOctober activities and Sustainable Equine Futures program to share their successes on social media, via their newsletter, and with their clients in person. Letting people know your sustainability journey inspires others to follow suit!
Veterinary Curriculum and Continuing Professional Education
AVEA has identified a significant gap in veterinary environmental education, including climate science, mitigation and adaptation strategies, practical sustainability tools, emissions reduction, financial implications, and the profession’s impact on biodiversity. There is an urgent need to embed these into both undergraduate veterinary training (“day one competencies”) and continuing professional education worldwide.
- Climate Science and Systems Understanding
- Fundamentals of climate science and drivers of climate change
- Links between human activity, economic factors, social determinants of health, and global warming
- Historical context and contributing philosophy and systems
- Current emissions, future projections, and global impacts
- Implications for animal health, welfare, production, One Health, global food supply and extinctions
- Economic impacts and biosecurity considerations
- Climate Impacts on Animal Health and Production
- Shifting disease patterns and emerging threats linked to climate change
- Regional variability in risks (e.g., transboundary diseases across different geographies)
- Effects of climate change on reproduction, productivity, and animal systems
- Adaptation strategies in animal husbandry and veterinary care
- Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship
- The veterinary profession’s role in biodiversity loss and protection
- Case examples (e.g. pharmaceutical impacts on ecosystems, chemical and plastic use)
- Principles of responsible and judicious resource use
- Integration of biodiversity considerations into clinical and production decisions
- Communication and Advocacy
- Veterinarians as trusted communicators to clients and the public
- Communicating climate risks and sustainable practices effectively
- Supporting behaviour change through evidence-based guidance and interprofessional education
- Practical Action in Veterinary Practice
- Application of sustainability principles in clinical care.
- Tools and approaches for emissions reduction (e.g., carbon measurement, resource efficiency, telemedicine)
- Environmentally sustainable practice management and service delivery
- Professionalism and Leadership
- Developing leadership capacity in climate and sustainability action tied within interprofessional education
- Embedding sustainability into professional identity and standards of care
- Advocacy at individual, organisational, and policy levels
- Economics, Policy, and Systems Thinking
- Global and region-specific financial implications of climate change and biodiversity loss
- Costs of inaction versus opportunities in sustainable practice
- Awareness of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks
- Engaging on environmental sustainability with supply chains, clients, and industry stakeholders
Our Masterclasses
One of our key programs is AVEA’s Masterclasses: free online sessions led by veterinary specialists, researchers and industry experts on the practical challenges facing the profession — and the people who care for animals more broadly — as they move towards a more sustainable way of working.
They’re a chance to learn directly from people doing the work, ask questions, and take away ideas you can actually use.
AVEA’s Masterclasses program is open to everyone — vets, vet nurses, practice managers, students, animal-care workers and anyone with an interest in animals and the environment. No membership required.
We run new Masterclasses regularly throughout the year. The best way to hear about upcoming sessions is to subscribe to our newsletter — we’ll let you know what’s coming up and how to register.
Past Masterclasses
All of our Masterclasses are available online to revisit. Our Masterclasses span the practical, the scientific and the strategic. Browse the full library below.