British Society of Dermatological Surgery Sustainability Guidance

The British Society of Dermatological Surgery recognises the contribution of skin surgery and patient pathways to climate change. Dermatological surgery plays both a role in the unfolding ecological crisis and is equally affected through the consequent direct and indirect strain on its own service. Action to mitigate against climate change yields large benefits for our own health and the community that we serve, in addition to planetary health. Whilst sustainability has many dimensions, it is fundamentally defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. A sustainable dermatological surgical service will be able to provide high-quality care whilst minimising negative environmental, social, and economic impact, in line with the Triple Bottom Line. 1 The NHS contributes to one-fourth of the greenhouse gas emissions within the public sector in the UK. 2 The campaign “For a Greener NHS” was initiated in January 2020 to strengthen the effort of the organisation in the last decade in achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. 3 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that to limit warming to 1.5°C, we need immediate transformation and strong accountability to the Paris Agreement4. With more than 4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions originating from the healthcare sector, we are uniquely positioned to lead from the front in attaining transformational change. To that end, the NHS has pledged to become carbon net-zero by 2045. 3 Within skin surgery, the issue spans beyond consumption in service provision, and stems from the basis of models of care and key clinical decisions. To achieve a sustainable change, we need collaboration and partnership at all levels of the healthcare and wider system to move toward net-zero patient-centric care, prevention of skin diseases, efficient patient pathways and a focus on wellbeing.