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.

Who should attend?

Any veterinary nurse, veterinarian, practice owner, animal carer or interested member of the public is welcome!

Masterclass Order of Events

8pm AEST - Opening Remarks

8:10pm AEST – Carbon Cost of Veterinary Anaesthesia with Dr Donna White

8:50pm AEST – Open Q&A with Donna

9pm AEST – Masterclass end

About the presenter:

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.

This Masterclass will be hosted by Dr Jeremy Watson BVSc (Hons) MANZCVs (SA surgery), VfCA Volunteer and owner of Brimbank Vet Clinic, Australia's first carbon neutral veterinary hospital.

Jeremy graduated from Melbourne University in 1986. By 1998 he had established the Brimbank Vet Clinic - now a 5 vet small animal practice in suburban Melbourne. In 2011 the Brimbank Vet Clinic was rebuilt incorporating the latest environmental design features facilitating a pathway to make the practice carbon neutral and in 2022 they achieved carbon neutral certification with the Australian Government Climate Active Register. Jeremy joined VfCA to help amplify the role veterinary teams can play in motivating the vet community to take urgent action on climate change. He has played an integral part in the development of the Climate Care Program.