Telehealth, its role in the greening of healthcare systems, and the responsibility of psychological researchers: A theoretical reflection

Background: Telehealth encompasses various healthcare services that focus on reducing the need for in-person meetings between physicians and their patients by providing digital services. The initial deployment of these technologies was intended to bridge the health services gap between rural and urban areas. Concurrently, they were meant to create stable and resilient communication infrastructures that would withstand the more frequent adverse natural phenomena caused by climate change. Aims: Through in-depth literature research, we aim to provide early evidence on the role of telehealth in greening healthcare by reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Ultimately, we will provide evidence on the responsibilities that psychological researchers play in the development and promotion of green policies. Findings: The development of digital services has proven to have consequences in reducing the greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by patients' travel to healthcare facilities. In 2022, a study on the Stanford Health Care center highlighted how the introduction of telehealth managed in one year to reduce by 36% the GHGs produced by the facilities (roughly 17000 metric tons of CO2), mostly due to transportation. Concurrently, a 2025 study investigated the “expensiveness” of private movements for both urban and rural patients to clinics, estimating CO2 emissions at approximately 7982 g and 17454 g, respectively. Implications: The acceptance and use of environmentally sustainable innovations, such as telehealth, can only be sustained and promoted through the cooperation of various stakeholders, including citizens, policymakers, and government officials, all guided by rigorous, contextual, and culturally sensitive evaluations informed by psychological research.