Anesthesia gases are greenhouse gases. Only about 5% of inhaled anesthesia is metabolized; the rest is vented into the atmosphere. Two common anesthesia gases, desflurane and sevoflurane, have very different climate effects. Desflurane is potentially twenty times as damaging as sevoflurane. Sevoflurane is also less expensive; Providence Health hospitals in Oregon made the switch to curb climate emissions and saved $500,000 in the process.

• If you’re planning surgery, inquire about the anesthesia that will be used.
• If you’re a healthcare professional, ask your hospital to use sevoflurane as its default for anesthesiology.