21/10/2026
🌱 Last month saw the launch of the Green Theatre Accreditation Scheme at RCSI, a new national accreditation programme which will provide hospitals with a structured pathway to reduce the environmental impact of surgery while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.
🏥 The scheme provides hospitals with a practical, evidence-based framework to reduce emissions, minimise waste, and improve resource efficiency across surgical services. It was developed by RCSI with support from the HSE Climate and Sustainability Programme and the HSE Spark Innovation Programme and is aligned with the HSE Climate Action Strategy 2023–2050.
🌍 Healthcare is estimated to account for between four and five per cent of global carbon emissions, with surgery among the most resource-intensive areas of care. A typical surgical procedure can generate between 150 and 170 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, highlighting the significant opportunity to improve environmental sustainability within operating theatres.
🗨️ Professor Michael Kerin, President of RCSI, said: "Healthcare systems have a responsibility not only to care for patients today but also to contribute to a healthier future for generations to come. The Green Theatre Accreditation Scheme provides hospitals with a practical and achievable route to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining excellent patient outcomes."
📖 Alumni received an early preview of the scheme courtesy of Professor Camilla Carroll (Medicine, Class of 1985), RCSI Council Member, who outlined the plans in our latest Alumni Magazine -
https://issuu.com/rcsi/docs/2026_rcsi_alumni_magazine?fr=sZmUzZTkzMTc0Mzc
