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Joint society task force releases strategic plan on climate change

The four major U.S. GI societies – AGA, AASLD, ACG and ASGE – have released a path to environmentally sustainable GI practice.
Chart of strategic plan for environmental impact reduction
Chart of strategic plan for environmental impact reduction

A task force of GIs from the four major GI societies – AGA, AASLD, ACG, and ASGE – have released a multi-society strategic plan outlining goals and milestones the GI specialty needs to achieve to reduce the environmental impact of the practice.  

Key takeaway: As a procedure intense subspecialty, gastroenterology, and in particular endoscopy, is a major contributor to health care’s carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. Endoscopy is the third largest generator of medical waste in a hospital (2 kg total waste per procedure) with most ending in landfills. With this strategic plan, the participating societies are committed to promoting and supporting a sustainable, high-quality GI practice. 

The U.S. GI multi-society strategic plan, which has also been endorsed by 23 GI societies globally (see below), is a collaborative effort that invites members to undertake initiatives to establish an environmentally sustainable, high-quality practice and promote planetary health. Each society will prioritize and adapt their initiatives in accordance with their individual societal goals. Some initiatives may be undertaken by a single society, whereas other objectives and initiatives maybe approached jointly. It is a five-year plan that covers seven major domains:  

  • Clinical setting 
  • Education 
  • Research 
  • Society efforts 
  • Intersociety efforts 
  • Industry  
  • Advocacy 

The plan was developed by the U.S. Multi-GI Society Task Force on Climate Change, which is comprised of leading experts from AASLD, ACG, AGA and ASGE.  

For more information, view the full publication: GI multisociety strategic plan on environmental sustainability, published in Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, HEPATOLOGY and The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 

Endorsing Societies of the Strategic Plan of the U.S. Multi-GI Society Task Force on Climate Change 

  • African Middle East Association for Gastroenterology 
  • American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association 
  • American Pancreatic Association 
  • Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology 
  • Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists 
  • British Association for the Study of the Liver 
  • British Society of Gastroenterology 
  • Canadian Association of Gastroenterology 
  • Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation 
  • Digestive Health Physicians Association 
  • European Association for the Study of the Liver 
  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers 
  • Indian Society of Gastroenterology 
  • Iranian Association of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 
  • Israeli Association for the Study of the Liver 
  • Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 
  • North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition 
  • Norwegian Gastroenterology Society 
  • Pan American Organization of Gastroenterology 
  • Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates 
  • Women in Endoscopy 
  • World Endoscopy Organization 
  • World Gastroenterology Organisation 

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