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How to get started

Sustainable respiratory care delivers safe, effective, and equitable treatment while reducing harm to people and planet. It recognises that every clinical decision—what we prescribe, how we deliver care, how we design services—has consequences that go beyond immediate clinical outcomes. Fortunately, what benefits the planet often benefits patients too.

The four principles of sustainable respiratory care can be summarised as:

  • preventing disease
  • empowering patients to self-manage their disease
  • lean care pathways, and
  • choosing low-carbon technologies.

These principles can all make care both higher quality and more sustainable.

Here are some ideas to help you get started...

If you only have...

Read the introduction to the BTS Position Statement on Sustainability and the Environment: Climate Change & Lung health 2024 section 1.2 & 2.
Why? Rapidly increase your knowledge of the respiratory health impacts of climate change

 

Watch a summary video from the Lancet  Countdown on Health and Climate Change: 2023 report

Why?
A quick and impactful introduction to the links between climate and health, with a global perspective. 

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Download the Clean Air checklist and save or print, ready to share with a patient in your next consultation.

Why? A practical way of bringing discussions about air pollution and climate change into your consultations. Provides concrete actions your patients can take to protect themselves, and reduce their contribution to air pollution as well. 

 

 

Read the Royal College of Physicians report, Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution 6 page summary. 

Why?
Access key facts and useful infographics about the impacts of air pollution across the life course, and organ systems. Find suggestions of what we can do to tackle air pollution as individuals, clinicians, researchers, and trusted voices in our communities.

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Listen to the Respiratory Futures podcast episode on Climate Change and Lung Disease. 

Why? 
A summary of the links between health and climate, with a focus on respiratory health. Also includes some real-world examples of actions that can be taken.

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Review the inhalers on your hospital formulary and check their carbon footprints.

Identify options for lower carbon alternatives for the pMDIs (e.g. next generation propellant pMDIs or HFA134a-containing pMDIs instead of those using HFA227ea). 

Are there DPI options for all classes of inhalers? Does your team know what they are and what is available?

Why? 
This is a great way to get started on changing prescribing practice. 

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Send an email to your MP advocating for the treatment of damp and mould in social housing.

Why?
As as respiratory healthcare professional, you can provide compelling testimony on the direct health impacts of poor air quality in people's homes.

Read the 2023 European Respiratory Society article – “Climate change and respiratory disease: clinical guidance for healthcare professionals.

Why? 
A great summary of evidence on how global heating affects respiratory outcomes. Practical advice on how respiratory professionals can contribute to reducing emissions, and really useful explanatory infographics. 

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Complete a course from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) (Courses  - Sustainable Healthcare) 

Why? 
CSH offers a range of online courses including an introduction to sustainable healthcare, sustainable QI, carbon footprinting, and sustainability in a variety of specialties. The courses include self-study of materials provided by CSH, live workshops online, and access to ongoing support after the course.

Read the section – Turning knowledge into action. Choose an action that inspires you and get to work on it! 

Read more about the Climate Crisis

Find more ideas in our Turning Knowledge into Action section