Reducing your clinic's carbon footprint is the most useful way to help reduce the effects of climate change and improve the future of animal health. And by actively communicating your efforts, you encourage the wider community to join and amplify your efforts.

Our carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that are generated by our actions. This could include the emissions created to make the electricity you use, the direct emissions created when you burn fossil fuel gas (eg. natural gas which is methane), the petrol or diesel used by your car, or the isoflurane you use during anaesthesia. 

For those of you already subscribed to the Climate Care Program, this will be particularly simple! The Climate Care Program hosts the first carbon calculator specifically for the veterinary profession. 

To access this, and begin your calculators, visit Module 4: The Power of Renewables - Net Zero & Carbon Calculator. 

If you don't have access to Vets for Climate Action's Carbon Calculator, you can estimate your Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

Scope 1 emissions are those directly released at or by your practice. eg. natural gas, anaesthetic gases, refrigeration. 

Scope 2 emissions are sometimes called your grid purchases of electricity

By checking your energy bills you will be able to get an idea of your carbon use.

To learn more about calculating your isoflurane use, check out our Masterclass: The carbon cost of anaesthesia

Remember to share your results with us (LINK) and your customers!