Climate Change and the Switch from Pressurised Metered-Dose Inhalers to Dry Powder Inhalers: A Proportionate Balancing of Risk and Reward?

Urgent action is required to limit the increase in global temperatures. While mitigation efforts are primarily directed at transitioning away from fossil fuels, given their overwhelming contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, infrastructural change is slow to effect. Thus, behavioural changes, which can be effected rapidly, are also critical. To limit healthcare-related emissions, a widespread transition away from pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), containing hydrofluorocarbons with high global warming potential (GWP), to dry powder inhalers (DPIs) with minimal GWP, has been proposed. This paper discusses whether the stated grounds for this transition are robust and are proportionate to the potential environmental gain and, while not to be ignored, whether a greater emphasis should be placed upon other measures that may have a greater impact.