Summary and purpose
This Toolkit is a suite of materials designed to help healthcare professionals working in respiratory medicine apply the principles of sustainability in both their services and the treatment of their patients.
Why is this toolkit needed?
The Climate crisis is accelerating, impacting ecosystems and human health. Respiratory health is directly affected by these changes:
- Heatwaves and wildfires increase exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Air pollution remains the leading environmental risk factor for respiratory disease
- Shifts in aeroallergens lengthen pollen seasons and intensify allergic disease.
- Infectious respiratory disease patterns are influenced by climate variability and climate-enforced migration, increasing pandemic risk.
5%
of global greenhouse emissions accountable by health systems.
Fact
Healthcare itself contributes substantially to the climate crisis. Globally, health systems account for an estimated 5% of greenhouse gas emissions². If it were a country, it would rank as the fifth largest emitter in the world. Within the NHS, respiratory care is a high-impact area: inhalers account for around 3% of the NHS carbon footprint, and the sector is a significant user of intensive acute care, single-use plastics and consumables.
Clinicians are ethically and operationally obliged to reduce environmental harm while maintaining or improving patient care. People living with respiratory disease are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and therefore need the respiratory professionals caring for them have relevant knowledge and skills to advocate for change and to act.
Who is it for?...
- ...for clinicians, respiratory teams, service managers, and commissioners engaged in the design and delivery of respiratory care across primary, secondary, and tertiary services. It has been designed for those with little to no knowledge of sustainable healthcare; to those already acting; and those wanting to lead this work.
What is it for?
- … to empower and equip you to act. It complements the BTS Position Statement on Sustainability and the Environment: Climate Change and Lung Health 2024 which outlines the Society’s stance on how the impact of climate change on respiratory health can be assessed, reduced and mitigated.
The toolkit aims to
- help you understand and communicate the issues
- reduce the environmental impact of respiratory care
- mitigate and adapt to changes we will see within our working lives
- provide practical examples
How should I use it?
- It can be read from start to finish, or by dipping into the most appropriate sections.
- If you are new to sustainable healthcare start with the introductory section, The Climate Crisis: A Global Emergency
- If you are looking for a project, go to Turning knowledge into action
- If you are an educator, or want to learn more yourself, read the section on Education and Climate Literatacy for Respiratory Professionals
- If you are in a leadership position or looking for ways to bring others with you, dive into From Literacy to Leadership
With thanks to:
Dr Enya Daynes, Dr Christopher Edwards, Mrs Lynn Elsey, Mrs Mariana Fernandes, Dr Katia Florman, Mrs Miriam Formica, Dr Jack Grenville, Dr Natalie Hill, Dr Barnaby Hirons, Dr Beenish Iqbal, Dr Jennifer Martinovic, Dr Anna Murphy, Dr Jennifer Nixon, Mr Danny Pender, Ms Ravijyot Saggu, Ms Maeve Savage, Dr Laura-Jane Smith, Mrs Carol Stonham and Dr Alex Wilkinson