Australian State Removes Common Anaesthetic in ‘Low Carbon’ Push

Western Australia removes desflurane anaesthesia from surgeries after it was identified as having 2,540 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide.

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A common anaesthetic agent that has been identified as a potent greenhouse gas has been approved for immediate removal from hospitals in Western Australia, as part of its health department’s mission to cut carbon footprint.

Desflurane, one of the most commonly used anaesthetic drugs in surgeries, has 2,540 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide, according to Western Australia’s public health system (WA Health).