Abstract
Purpose :
The adverse health effects of climate change include the spread of infectious diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases secondary to wildfires, malnourishment due to droughts and flooding, and obesity, diabetes and heart disease owing to increasing motorization of agricultural activities. The healthcare sector and medical research are significant contributors to carbon emissions globally. The concept of sustainability in ophthalmology research is to promote and continue indefinitely actions and values for a greener environment, particularly in these laboratories. Several areas can be improved, including but not limited to energy consumption, cleaning, plastic use and waste disposal. The aim is to initiate discussion to lead to awareness and specific proposals to decrease the negative impact of forms of pollution in the ophthalmology research environment.
Methods :
We evaluated the possible use of the 5 R concept (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Research) in our MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory as indicated by EyeSustain. The areas that we are evaluating are the use of lights and equipment, the use of plastic double-wrapped packaging, the use of laboratory personal protection, the use of plastic containers, particularly in Ocular Pathology, size of the containers related to the size of biopsies.
Results :
We are promoting discussions in our lab meetings to come up with innovative ideas, such as competition to design methods to promote a green environment. We are working to provide education in order to create programs in sustainability in our laboratory. We are establishing lecture series with experts in global green initiatives and creating a committee to discuss ongoing and further actions to continue developing green initiatives including members of the community at large. The establishment of an “Ophthalmology Research Green Day” in our academic centre.
Conclusions :
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that sustainability is brought to discussion at ARVO. It is paramount that sustainability be placed in such an internationally renowned stage, in particular in this era of uncertainty with climate change and its consequences. The actions that are taken are being evaluated according to specific deadlines to review objectives and progress, clear milestones for each of the steps, and metrics to assess the results.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.