Can you write a letter?
If you can do that. You can share important ideas with those who need to make change.
I had a wonderful thing happen this week.
I attended a leadership conference at work and talked to the “Planetary Health” Team. They said “We received a letter from your organization “Fraser Valley Climate Action” about the anesthetic Desflurane. Because of your letter we were able to say to leadership “the public is demanding action”. Because of your letter, Fraser Health (who of course already had other talented people working on this) has significantly reduced its use of the anesthetic gas Desflurane. I am ecstatic. I didn’t know that my letter had such a positive effect.
So with that encouragement, I’ve now also sent that letter to every Health authority in every province and territory in Canada. (still working on Quebec)
Some MATH here… a letter below…
In Canada, 4.5-5% of greenhouse gasses come from healthcare.
In healthcare, 5% of greenhouse gasses come from anesthetic gases.
5% of 5% is 0.25% So on this topic, this concerns a 1/4 % of Canadas greenhouse gas emissions. (or the emissions of 95,000 people. assuming a Canadian population of 38Million)
In Canada about 80% of GHG emissions from anesthetic gasses come from Desflurane which has a Global warming potential 2,540 x that of CO2. The anesthetic gas Desflurane can be substituted with another which pollutes 20 times less.
So if we had 100 units of pollution from these gasses and if we could stop the use of Desflurane, it would leave us with only 24 units of pollution. So if I’m successful in my work to encourage Canadian Health Authorities to stop using Desflurane, it will have reduced 76% of 0.0025 of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Roughly equivalent to eliminating the pollution of 72,200 people.
And it required me to send 18 letters (plus the Quebec letters I’m still working on.)
So I’ll ask you again.
Can you write a letter?
Find something that matters and write a letter.
Here is the letter I’ve been sending.
“Urging you to take action to end the use of desflurane in your health authority facilities
Dear CEO,
I am writing on behalf of our 72 members to urge you to take action to end the use of desflurane in your health authority facilities. As the CEO, you have the power to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change. I am writing to urge you to take one specific action to end your health authority’s use of desflurane, an anesthetic gas that is also a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) that is 3,714 times more than CO2 and 15-20x more powerful GWP than alternate anesthetic gasses.
As you are likely aware, healthcare in Canada accounts for 4.5% of GHG emissions, and anesthetic gases like desflurane account for 5% of healthcare’s GHG emissions. This means that the healthcare sector has a significant role to play in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change. The Association of Anaesthetists suggests, “Avoid use of desflurane except for rare occasions when its use is really necessary” A cost calculator on the same website suggests desflurane may be approximately twice the cost of sevoflurane. Your health facilities might actually cut costs while shifting away from desflurane.
As a healthcare leader, your health authority prioritizes the health and well-being of patients, staff, and the wider community. By transitioning away from desflurane, you will demonstrate Your commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship while also fulfilling your duty to provide safe and effective patient care.
Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you by email on this important matter. Hopefully to hear that your health authority has made progress to eliminate desflurane use.
Sincerely,
Greg
If you’d like some more ideas for fighting climate change, check out the “personal actions” here https://fvclimateaction.org/personal-actions/
If you live in Abbotsford and would like big oil and gas to pay their fair share of climate costs (rather than you paying it with your taxes). click here: https://abbyfairshare.org