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The carbon cost of anaesthesia is an increasingly recognised contribution to global warming. Of the commonly available inhalational anaesthetic agents Isoflurane is currently the most widely used in veterinary practice, being well recognised as safe and cost effective. However Isoflurane carries with it the highest carbon cost. For a medium size small animal practice it is responsible for about 7% of the carbon footprint.

As all businesses in Australia transition to net zero by 2050 we will need to find a zero carbon alternative. In order to occur without compromising patient safety the transition to zero carbon anesthesia will provide significant challenges to the practice of veterinary anaesthesia. It will require widespread technical, educational and financial changes within the profession. 

To the best of our knowledge this is the first formal veterinary webinar examining this difficult issue in Australia. We are honoured to have Dr Donna White, an accomplished presenter and specialist Veterinary Anesthetist to officially start the journey to net zero veterinary anesthesia in Australia.

About Dr Donna White BVSc (Hons) MVS MANZCVS Dip ECVAA, Specialist Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Donna completed her veterinary degree at Sydney University. She spent several years working as a general practitioner and emergency veterinarian in Australia, the UK and Canada. Donna then followed her passion for pain management by undertaking speciality training in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Sydney University. Since completing her training in 2018, Donna has worked in several private referral hospitals in Sydney, and runs the Sydney Animal Pain Clinic.