Article

Introduction

“Sustainability” is a fashionable word right now, often to be found in television, radio and newspaper reports, and cropping up frequently in social media. But what is it exactly? The 1987 United Nations Brundtland Commission stated that sustainability concerned “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (1). But why is it important, and what can we as individuals do about it?

The first question – why is sustainability important? – is easy to answer. Everyone is aware of global warming and its effects, and 2024 was not only the warmest year on record, it was the first year that the increase in global temperatures exceeded 1.5 C° above pre-industrial levels – a limit that was set by the UN’s Paris Agreement in 2015. This increase was partly due to the El Niño climate effect, but many scientists believe that the temperature rises we are seeing are primarily due to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (2). In pre-industrial times the concentration was about 280 parts per million (ppm), whereas it is around 420 ppm today— a 50% rise in less than a century (2).

The UN has estimated that climate-related disasters have increased by 83% over the last 20 years (3). I write this as a massive storm called Eowyn batters the UK and Ireland with record-breaking winds, leaving over one million people without power. Our wooden front gate was blown off its hinges! Aon, a leading insurer, declared in its 2025 Climate and Catastrophe Insight Report that natural disaster costs reached $368 billion in 2024, driven by hurricanes Milton and Helene, severe convective storms in the USA, and flooding across Europe, with many people underinsured when disaster struck (4). At the same time, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) reported that the past 50 years had shown a huge 73% decrease in the number of wild animals alive (Figure 1) (5). Earth Overshoot Day – the day when the planet has consumed its annual resources – has steadily worsened since the 1970s; in 2024 the world went overdrawn on 1^st August (Figure 2). The environmental crisis is already here, and increased efforts must be made to mitigate these ongoing threats.

What can be done?

The answer to the second question – what can we as individuals do about sustainability? – is more problematic. In his book There Is No Planet B, Mike Berners-Lee opines that part of the problem is the world’s increasing desire for more power each year. While renewable options help to offset this issue, our continued obsession with more energy – exacerbated by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) – means we need an entirely new way of producing energy to cope with the high demands of new technology. As an example, Ireland is one of the leading countries for data centers; the energy used by these establishments exceeds that used for all housing in Ireland, and this consumption is increasing year on year. It is time for governments, industry sectors and businesses to set aside preparatory funds to mitigate these challenges, since planning now will be much cheaper than doing nothing and reaping the consequences over the following decades. For example, Aviva, another insurance company, has promised £100 million to develop more wetlands and restore temperate rainforest in the UK to improve biodiversity (Figure 3), as well as to help absorb floodwaters and sequester carbon to reduce claims (6).

Watching the news can severely damage mental health, as global disasters become increasingly frequent; leading psychiatrists now recognize a new condition called “solastalgia.” This is characterized by anxiety that the planet is beyond repair and that there is no point in trying to do anything about it. This lack of hope increases the likelihood of depression. Paradoxically, spending time in nature – and even volunteering – has been shown to help with various psychological conditions. A recent study conducted by a UK Wildlife Trust showed that people working on their reserves, who were referred by their doctors for mental health issues, improved in mood and were able to reduce or discontinue medication. One pound invested in green prescribing was shown to yield almost £7 in economic benefits, due to reduced absenteeism from sickness and fewer visits to the medical services (7).

Industry and the environment

Is the veterinary industry part of the problem or part of the solution? All industries and businesses affect the environment. Milton Friedman’s neo-liberal economic ideology meant that many businesses prioritized making as much profit as possible for shareholders. However, a document published in 2019 and endorsed by many leading companies’ CEOs suggested that their businesses should be forces for good, considering stakeholders such as clients, employees, suppliers and the planet when setting strategies and goals (8). Although many of these companies have not followed up quickly enough with action, this change in attitude away from a purely profit-focused approach is encouraging. There are early adopters of this purpose-centered approach to business, and in the book Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take, the co-author Paul Polman – a former CEO of Unilever – suggested that businesses should aim to make positive contributions in ecological, social and governance areas while tackling the environmental crisis, inequality, and racism that can stifle company and country success. This approach led his company to record results for over a decade, overshadowing companies that were purely profit-focused. Polman cites companies such as Patagonia, Ikea, Mars, Triodos Bank, Allianz, Levi’s, and Marks and Spencer as examples of businesses leading in these important areas (9), and studies are now showing that people want to buy from companies that care about society and the environment.

Many reports and articles are currently being published on sustainability, but there is an obsession with carbon and climate, which reduces the discussion around biodiversity loss and circularity concepts. This focus can lead to projects that reduce carbon emissions but also harm biodiversity – for example, by planting non-native trees in inappropriate locations. A more holistic approach to the environmental crisis will emerge when we adopt circularity methodologies.

From all this evidence, it is clear that the world needs some tender, loving care to stabilize ecosystems and reduce environmental pollution, so that both people and animals may thrive once again. Where does this leave the veterinary industry?

The veterinary sector and sustainability

The world’s economic system has been built around a linear model since the Industrial Revolution, consisting of producing, using, and disposing. A circular model will add value to a broader range of stakeholders and is both disruptive and regenerative, and it can be tempting to pass the responsibility for potential solutions to these significant problems to governments and large corporations. However, it is also the responsibility of individuals and small businesses, such as veterinary practices, to reduce their environmental footprint and increase their sustainability handprint. Creating a more circular veterinary economy will lead to a more sustainable profession.

A 2019 survey of UK veterinary surgeons found that 89% of respondents want to play a more active role in sustainability (10), yet a much smaller number are taking concrete action to curb the environmental crisis. Many practices are busy and often understaffed, and teams may not know where to commence, but there are many areas in which the veterinary team can make a difference. The following articles of this Special Edition of Veterinary Focus will help veterinarians, nurses and the entire team get started. If everyone does a little, it will add up to a lot. Reducing energy consumption, producing more sustainable pet foods, and practicing pharmaceutical stewardship will all be covered in this edition, along with the critical topic of reducing waste. All these issues fall under the umbrella of the circular economy, but while many people simplify the concepts of circularity into “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” it is much more than that. The three key principles to focus on are:

• Design out waste and pollution
• Keep products in use
• Regenerate natural systems

The 7R’s and the hierarchy of waste management (Figure 4) will help practice teams to think in a more sustainable and economical fashion. Rethinking our protocols to prevent unnecessary usage and waste is the first step in this hierarchy. For instance, excessive packaging can be refused, and food waste can be composted. Making products last longer through regular care, servicing and repair – rather than replacing them – is counter-cultural in an era of rapidly changing mobile phone models. However, even telecom companies are starting to shift toward more sustainable models that encourage less frequent replacements. Finally, regenerating natural systems is an area where the veterinary profession can add real value by promoting more traditional methods of livestock management – such as rotational and extensive systems – that do not rely heavily on fertilizers and pesticides, which can run off into rivers and pollute water. Responsible use of pharmaceuticals also reduces the risk of resistance and the destruction of beneficial organisms, as well as parasites.

Conclusion

The 2020's have been called the “decisive decade.” The time for talk alone has passed; this is the decade when action must occur if we are to turn the environmental crisis around. Implementing some of the suggestions from this journal will be a good start to ensuring that the veterinary profession is seen as part of the solution and not part of the problem.

 

References

1. Brundtland G. (1987). Our common future. Oxford University Press.
2. NASA. (2025). Temperatures rising: NASA confirms 2024 warmest year on record. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/temperatures-rising-nasa-confirms-2024-warmest-year-on-record/  Accessed 15^th March 2025.
3. United Nations. “Staggering” rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years, new disaster research shows. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075142  Accessed 2^nd March 2025.
4. Aon. Climate and catastrophe report 2025. https://www.aon.com/en/insights/reports/climate-and-catastrophe-report?collection=afba4ec7-ef9e-48e1-a5b0-7a8f9d6abfce&parentUrl=/ en/insights/articles/global-insurance-market-overview-q4-2024  Accessed 1^st February 2025.
5. World Wide Fund for Nature. 2024 Living Planet Report, p7. https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/2024-living-planet-report Accessed 3^{rd March 2025.}
6. Aviva. Aviva helps restore rare native British rainforests.  https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2023/02/aviva-helps-restore-rare-native-british-rainforests/  Accessed 10^th February 2025.
7. Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Call for green prescribing to become widespread. https://www.lancswt.org.uk/news/call-green-prescribing-become-widespread Accessed 2^nd March 2025.
8. Gartenberg C, Serafeim G. Harvard Business Review 2019. 181 top CEOs have realised companies need a purpose beyond profit. https://hbr.org/2019/08/181-top-ceos-have-realized-companies-need-a-purpose-beyond-profit Accessed March 3^rd 2025.
9. British Veterinary Association. Vets are central to the sustainability agenda, says BVA., https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/vets-are-central-to-the-sustainability-agenda-says-bva/  Accessed 1^st February 2025.
10. Polman P, Winston A. Net positive: How courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take. Harvard Business Review Press 2002;10.

 

Further reading

Attenborough D. A life on our planet. London, Ebury Books, 2020.
Berners-Lee M. There is no planet B. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2021.