Guide to help vet workplaces achieve net zero published
“Our vision is that by 2050 the profession will have adapted to support the UK’s net zero targets” – Anna Judson.
A new report providing guidance on how veterinary workplaces can help tackle climate change has been published by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and Vet Sustain.
The document, Net zero: The role of veterinary workplaces in tackling climate change, aims to provide a roadmap for veterinary workplaces looking to contribute to the UK’s net zero targets.
Drawing on recent research, the report looks at topics including why veterinary workplaces should act on climate change and the roles that individuals, teams, and communities can play.
It also sets out four steps that veterinary workplaces can take towards net zero:
- Pledge: making a formal pledge or telling others of intentions
- Plan: calculating carbon emissions in the workplace and creating a plan to reduce them
- Proceed: taking action, such as switching to green energy providers or performing waste audits
- Publish: reporting progress, whether internally or publicly.
Also included in the report are case studies looking at veterinary workplaces currently taking action to become more environmentally sustainable.
The most recent BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey found that 93 per cent of the veterinary surgeons who responded feel that sustainability is important to them.
Anna Judson, BVA senior vice-president, said: “Many veterinary professionals have long been concerned about the impact the sector is having on the environment, and many are already taking action to mitigate this.
“However, there is still more work to do. Our vision is that by 2050 the profession will have adapted to support the UK’s net zero targets; is trusted on mitigating its own carbon footprint; and is a leading advocate for environmental sustainability.
“This new report is providing vet teams with the tools and the inspiration to do their bit, because small changes add-up to make a big difference.”
The full report can be read here.
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Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
