“Green Anesthesia” working group established in Spain

In January 2025, the Spanish Minister of Health participated in a meeting to establish the “Green Anesthesia” working group. The group’s goal is to further advance the sustainability of the healthcare system and develop a set of best practices and solutions to achieve “better anesthesia for patients and for the planet”.

The importance of aligning the NHS with the 21st century was outlined, noting that one of the key challenges for public healthcare systems today is environmental sustainability and adapting to the climate crisis. It is estimated that anesthesia-related emissions account for 2% of the NHS’s carbon footprint and about 10% of the direct emissions from healthcare facilities.

The working group was initiated by the Health and Climate division at the Ministry of Health, bringing together representatives from the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the European Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC), the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MiTEco), and other healthcare experts. During the first meeting, various hospital experiences with green anesthesia were shared.

Many hospitals and anesthesia departments are already taking steps toward more sustainable anesthesia practices. These include using low flows, limiting the use of more polluting anesthetics, and implementing sustainable capture mechanisms. The Ministry of Health’s role will be to compile, prioritize, and promote sustainable anesthesia practices, ensuring they meet the dual standard of reducing environmental impact while maintaining or even improving healthcare quality and professional work.

See the full details in Spanish here.

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