The ESAIC Glasgow Declaration on Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care roadmap    

Following the impactful launch of the ESAIC Glasgow Declaration on Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care at Euroanaesthesia 2023 in Glasgow, ESAIC has now finalised an ambitious 3-year Roadmap for Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. This strategic plan is a bold step towards a greener future, setting not just trends but also standards for sustainability within the healthcare sector.

Vision and the Urgency of Change ESAIC is committed to leading the field in environmental stewardship. The society acknowledges the urgent need to adopt sustainable practices, particularly in light of the forthcoming EU F-gas regulations. These regulations mandate a significant reduction in F-gas usage — common in some anaesthetic gases — by 98% from 2015 to 2050 and include a ban on desflurane by 2026.

Strategic Pillars of Sustainability The roadmap is structured around four key pillars:

• Anaesthetics and Drugs: ESAIC is leading the transition towards anaesthetics with minimal environmental impact, significantly reducing emissions.
• Waste and Scavenging: The adoption of a robust 5R strategy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign) aims to set new benchmarks for waste management in healthcare.
• Energy Efficiency: The society is driving innovations in facility design and operational efficiencies to transform ESAIC facilities into models of energy conservation.
• Professional Well-being: Commitment to the well-being of clinicians is strong, with an understanding that a healthy work environment is vital for sustainable practice.

The roadmap integrates these pillars into a vibrant framework poised for future action. ESAIC is leading initiatives to achieve substantial sustainability goals through global collaboration. It plans to shape policy at the EU level, ensuring that the fields of anaesthesiology and intensive care have a significant voice. Additionally, ESAIC is dedicated to spreading awareness and equipping professionals across Europe with the skills needed for sustainable practices through creative educational tools. The society also plans to initiate pilot projects in hospitals across Europe, creating a cascade of best practices with potential broad adoption and significant environmental benefits.

Milestones and preparations for regulation change

Significant milestones include the initial launch of the Glasgow Declaration and ongoing initiatives such as the ESAIC Sustainability Consensus Document and the International Survey in Sustainability. These efforts are designed to measure and enhance the effectiveness of sustainability strategies. Preparation for the upcoming EU regulations, especially the desflurane limitation set for January 2026, is a critical component of the roadmap, ensuring all ESAIC-affiliated hospitals comply well ahead of deadlines.

Conclusions and Collaborative Actions: Looking ahead, ESAIC advocates for a unified approach to address sustainability challenges through several strategic actions. The society is strengthening its commitment to the Glasgow Declaration, launching educational campaigns to enhance awareness and training in sustainable practices, which may include on-site courses. It promotes sustainability-focused research through specific national grants and adjusts grant criteria to prioritise sustainability. ESAIC also supports regulatory changes in hospital infrastructure and is intensifying efforts to address healthcare professional burnout and prevent suicide through enhanced support mechanisms.

ESAIC’s 3-year roadmap is a testament to its commitment to environmental stewardship and reflects a comprehensive approach to enhancing healthcare practices through sustainable development. By implementing these strategic actions, ESAIC fosters a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally conscious healthcare environment, paving the way for a sustainable future in medical care.

The ESAIC Glasgow Declaration on Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, is being officially endorsed by

References

1. ESAIC Glasgow Declaration on Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care.
2. European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care consensus document on sustainability – 4 scopes to achieve a more sustainable practice, European Journal of Anaesthesiology 41(4):p 260-277, April 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000001942
3. EU F-gas Regulation and Implementation Schedule. European Union Legislation.

The ESAIC Glasgow Declaration on Sustainability in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care is currently endorsed by the following societies and will be formally signed tomorrow, 27 May, at 12h at the Innovation Village:

• Société Française d’Anesthésie et de Réanimation (SFAR)
• Belgian Society for Anesthesiology, Resuscitation Perioperative medicine and Pain Management (BeSARPP)
• New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA)
• Albanian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ASAI)
• Macedonian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (MSA)
• Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga
• European Society for Paediatric Anaesthesia (ESPA)
• Kosovo Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (KSAIC)
• Croatian Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimatology and Intensive Medicine
• The Romanian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (SRATI)
• Armenian Society of Anaesthesiologists and Intensive Care Specialists
• Association of Anaesthesiologists of Malta
• Montenegrin Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
• Hellenic Society of Anaesthesiology
• World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA)

The declaration is also supported by the American Society of Anesthesiology.