Saving the Whales by Taking on TIVA

doi:10.1017/9781316659069.020

Chapter 18 - Saving the Whales by Taking on TIVA

The Environmental Impact of TIVA

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 November 2019

Vincent K. F. Kong

Edited by

Michael G. Irwin ,

Gordon T. C. Wong and

Shuk Wan Lam

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Michael G. Irwin: Affiliation:
The University of Hong Kong
Gordon T. C. Wong: Affiliation:
The University of Hong Kong
Shuk Wan Lam: Affiliation:
The University of Hong Kong

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Summary

Reducing the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of health services could make a meaningful contribution to the environment. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) was responsible for 21.3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (i.e. 426 kg per person), or approximately 3% of all GHG emissions in England in 2004.[1] In the United States, annual health-care sector emissions were 545.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2007 (i.e. 1510 kg per person) or approximately 8% of the country’s total GHG emissions for that year.[2] In Australia, total national emissions were 547 million and 553 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents in 2007 and 2008, respectively.[3] Reducing health-related GHG emissions by 10% from the US health system alone, could have the same environmental impact as a 10% reduction in emissions from the whole of the Australian economy.

Type: Chapter
Information: Taking on TIVA
Debunking Myths and Dispelling Misunderstandings
, pp. 146 - 153

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316659069.020 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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