AN IPSWICH based nursing and public health expert is leading a research study on how the nursing industry can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions.
Dr Aletha Ward and other researchers say they have identified nurses as the key to the global health care sector’s push to become carbon neutral in less than 30 years.
The industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change through the procurement of goods and services, energy use, waste and transport.
In Australia, health care generates almost a tenth of the nation’s overall carbon emissions.
Globally, health care is responsible for 4.4 percent of global emissions, meaning if the sector was a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet.
In the face of the pandemic, the health care sector was forced to increase single use plastics used to fight Covid-19.
Dr Ward said the production and use of masks, gloves, personal protective equipment, syringes and syringe caps reached unprecedented levels.
“Waste reduction is more important now than ever as we have never had such high clinical waste that we are producing now, because of the pandemic,” she said.
“Nursing is the largest health care profession, making up about 60 per cent of the health care workforce worldwide, and is often at the forefront of patient care,” she said.
“As trusted health care professionals, it is essential nurses use their skills, knowledge and advocacy to reduce emissions and lead by example, in both their professional and personal lives.”
So after fighting on the front line of a deadly pandemic, Dr Ward said nurses would now need to tackle perhaps an even greater threat.
“The paradox is that while the health care sector is one of the biggest culprits of carbon emissions, it is responsible for looking after those most at risk of developing health problems due to climate change, such as heat stroke and respiratory illness.”
Dr Ward said the study found that nurses must lead the way in the sector’s sustainability drive.
The study findings were pulled from a large number of research papers, case studies, position statements and reports from the past seven years.
The key findings found:
There was a need for increased education on climate change and emissions reduction within the nursing workforce and the undergraduate curriculum.
Nurses needed to be involved in adapting hospital policy to support recycling, energy and waste reduction.
And nurses need to advocate for federal and state government policies, as well as investment in infrastructure and initiatives that aim to reduce emissions from the healthcare sector.
Roughly 30,000 delegates and world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, attended the COP26 United Nations’ Climate Change Conference this week.
The main goal was to negotiate emissions reduction measures to hit net zero emissions by 2050.
Dr Ward said strong nursing leadership was vital, but stressed every nurse needed to play their part.
“From strategies to reduce waste and recycle at the bedside, to influencing federal and state policy agenda, we must be prepared as a profession to address the health consequences of climate change and take responsibility to reduce emissions within the healthcare sector,” she said.
“Some hospitals are now recycling medical supplies, items and packages so they don’t go to landfill, while others have turned to renewable energy options like solar panels.
“Nurses can also make an important contribution by taking simple, positive steps to reducing their carbon footprint every day at work and in their homes.
“For example, making sure unused medical items don’t go to landfill, only opening necessary single use equipment, limiting unnecessary travel to conferences or meetings if they can be done online, and advocating for plant-based nutrition for patients.”
