Sustainability working group
We commit to continued efforts to improve the sustainability of paediatric anaesthesia across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Act Now
Within medicine and in particular paediatric anaesthesia, it can often feel that change and shifts in professional practice take considerable time to come about. However, there is one area where we cannot afford to delay change: the climate emergency which faces us.
APAGBI Climate commitment statement
As a society, we stand in solidarity with the international paediatric societies’ declaration on responding to the impact of climate change on children. We believe that it is our responsibility to advocate for children’s health and wellbeing; this mandates ensuring the world in which they develop is as conducive to that as possible.
Climate change threatens children’s development in many different ways — from natural disasters and extreme weather affecting habitat and agriculture, to competition for usable land and conflict over it, to the exploitation of natural resources leading to reduced air quality and increased childhood disease.
We commit to continued efforts to improve the sustainability of paediatric anaesthesia across the United Kingdom and Ireland. To this end, we advocate for — and work towards — local and national policy that uses evidence to reduce the carbon footprint within our practice. We will offer structured support to advance changes in practice that achieve this, and we welcome opportunities from our professional community to assist where we can.
Sustainability Lead - Dr Sarah Greenaway sustainability@apagbi.org.uk
Resources
Piped nitrous oxide waste reduction strategy
An approach developed by NHS East Lothian for any acute Trust looking to reduce nitrous oxide waste. Includes an audit sheet and contact details for the Nitrous Oxide Project.
Anaesthetic impact calculators
Anaesthetic Impact Calculator — Allows clinicians to calculate and compare the CO₂e impact of inhalational anaesthetic and carrier gases.
Theatre shutdown checklist
Theatres and anaesthetic rooms are some of the most energy-intensive areas of the hospital. Switching off equipment overnight during periods of no activity has significant carbon and cost-saving implications for Trusts.
Green My Pension
For members with private pensions (NB: not applicable to the NHS Pension, which is an unfunded scheme). This initiative encourages investment in sustainable businesses that are committed to tackling the climate emergency. The site enables individuals to sign a letter to their pension provider.
Real Zero
A non-profit organisation focused on catalysing social and economic change through the healthcare sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the necessary pace and scale.
Propofol Wastage Reduction
Propofol Dreams App — Helps anaesthetists calculate propofol requirements for TIVA and reduce waste