Measuring the carbon footprint of Colchicine for Long COVID - a multicenter trial from India.

Introduction: Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities is essential to combat climate change. The healthcare sector contributes to global emissions, and clinical trials play a crucial role in informing evidence-based healthcare practices. Attempts have been made to quantify emissions resulting from clinical trials to help devise effective mitigation strategies. We report carbon emissions from a multicenter clinical trial conducted in both community and hospital settings in India. Methods: We audited the carbon emissions of a multicenter, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of colchicine for Long COVID (CTRI/2021/11/038234) using the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the Corporate Value Chain Standard. A three-step methodology was followed, including identification of relevant organisational stakeholders and setting the scope of the calculation, data collection by developing relevant study tools, and calculation of emissions using applicable emission factors. Results: The total emissions related to the trial were 12.38 tonnes of CO2 equivalents (CO2e) for the trial duration of three years. The top contributors to the emissions were the local commute of trial coordinators and research staff (71%, 8.73 tonnes CO2e), trial meetings (9%, 1.13 tonnes CO2e), patient investigations (10%, 1.27 tonnes CO2e) and the electricity consumption at the clinical trial unit (5%, 0.61 tonnes CO2e). Conclusion: The study demonstrated the feasibility of assessing the carbon footprint of a clinical trial conducted in India and provides a framework for future assessments and recommendations that can be considered during the planning and implementation of clinical trials.