Goal 2: Sustainable Healthcare Secretariats
Create Sustainable Healthcare Secretariats at the Provincial and Territorial Levels. Using the wins and hope created by goal 1, create capacity, teams, relationships, and momentum towards the creation of a network of provincial and territorial secretariats for sustainable, climate-resilient healthcare in Canada by the end of 2028.
What are Sustainable Healthcare Secretariats?
This is under development. We welcome your input.
Provide comments (Google Doc)How you can help
Fill our 1 min volunteer survey:
Would you like to join our target-based advocacy efforts regarding desflurane phase-out and sustainable healthcare and get connected into the group doing this work in your jurisdiction with our national support? Answer our short survey here and let us know how you would like to contribute.
Get your organization to endorse our campaign
Would you like to join our target-based advocacy efforts regarding desflurane phase-out and sustainable healthcare and get connected into the group doing this work in your jurisdiction with our national support? Answer our short survey here and let us know how you would like to contribute.
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Help us co-design Sustainable Healthcare Secretariats
We know you care. Help us move out of inefficient isolation with your ideas and influence.
What do you need from a National Resource Center on Planetary Health to help you deliver at the frontline?
-> How should it be governed?
-> Who should fund it?
Provide your comments directly in the documents below. Use the comments function.
Want to volunteer and stay in touch?
You think you can help on phasing out desflurane, or you have an idea on how we could establish a Sustainable Healthcare Secretariat in your province or territory?
Additional Resources
- INESSS - Publication: Diminuer l’empreinte carbone des agents anesthésiques inhalés au bloc opératoire lors d’une anesthésie générale : stratégies et enjeux à considérer
- Ontario's Anesthesiologists - Environmental Sustainability Position Statements
- Ontario's Anesthesiologists - Reducing/Eliminating Desflurane
- Canadia Anesthesiologists' Society - Position Statement
- International Pharmaceutical Federation - Statement Policy on Environmental sustainability
- Choosing Wisely Canada - Decentering Desflurane: A Climate Action Success Story
- Northwest Terriroties - NWT 'first in Canada' to phase out polluting anesthetic gas
- New Brunswick - Greener possibilities on the operating table at Fredericton hospital
- Choosing Wisely Canada - Decentering Desflurane: A Climate Action Success Story
- Scotland - Scotland first to ban environmentally harmful anaesthetic
- European Union - What is desfllurane and how is it bad for the environment?
- Australia - NSW Government: Environmental impact of desflurane
Desflurane, a gas long used in anesthesia, has a global warming potential (GWP) thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide: it accounts for up to 80% of anesthetic-related greenhouse gas emissions. Alternatives like sevoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia offer comparable efficacy with significantly lower environmental impact. Additionally, this switch represents cost savings for Canadians, as desflurane is twice as expensive as sevoflurane. Phasing out desflurane is a priority in sustainable healthcare, with Scotland having withdrawn it from operating rooms, and the UK having committed to phasing it out by the end of 2024. Canada has committed to climate-resilient, sustainable low-carbon healthcare. Desflurane phase-out is a priority intervention in our analysis of climate-related social tipping interventions by the health sector.
William Gagnon, BEng MSc PMP LEED AP BD+C & NDDirector of Strategy
Email: gagnon.will@gmail.com
Phone: +1 514 996 6284
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