The Glasgow declaration on sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care

Abstract

The healthcare sector contributed 5.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, up from 4.9% in 2018.1,2 These emissions are from a variety of sources. Data from England suggest that inhaled anaesthetic agents contribute to 2% of the total emissions from the health system.3 In addition, up to 4.2% of a nation's waste generation may be attributable to healthcare,4 and operating rooms (ORs) produce approximately 20% of all waste in a hospital.5 Thus the field of anaesthesiology and intensive care has an important role to play in helping countries decrease the carbon footprint of their health systems and protect the future environmental sustainability healthcare. The World Health Organization defines an environmentally sustainable health system as one which ‘would improve, maintain or restore health, while minimising negative impacts on the environment’.6 Recognising the importance of rapid action, the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) created a Declaration focused on achieving greater environmental sustainability across anaesthesiology and intensive care in Europe. This Declaration presents a shared European perspective of what is feasible and achievable within this field. It builds on the existing Helsinki Declaration for Patient Safety,7 and is intended as a guide for countries across Europe to build into their own healthcare plans. This Declaration is based on the European Union's strong commitment to tackle climate change. The European Green Deal aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990).8 In addition, the EU is also proposing regulation to decrease the use of fluorinated gases (F-gases), which are potent greenhouse gases that account for 2.5% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions.9 This is relevant to ESAIC because inhaled anaesthetic agents may be comprised of hydrofluorocarbons, which are F-gases.