Hong Kong Green Healthcare
The Global Landscape
To avoid a climate disaster, countries across the globe are working to reach the target set by the Paris agreement, which means limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels. To do this, emissions need to be reduced by 50% by 2030 and to net zero by 2050.
Last updated on 13th March 2022
Countries that pledged net zero goals
According to Net Zero Tracker, 136 countries have pledged net zero goals.
Target year of reaching net zero
2035
2045
2050
2060
2070
Finland
Germany
EU
Japan
South Korea
Malaysia
UK
China
Russia
Ukraine
India
Health systems and institutions that pledged net zero goals
14 countries have pledged net zero targets for their national health systems.
Another 32 countries have agreed to move towards more sustainable and low-carbon health systems.
Apart from national commitments, 54 institutions from 21 countries, representing more than 14000 hospitals and health centres have join the United Nations-backed Race to Zero Campaign.
Hong Kong's Pledge
A pledge had been made to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, with strategies being outlined in the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050.
However, the health care sector had not been involved in the climate discussion, and the action plan had not included measures specifically targeting the health industry.
Joining the green movement
The plans look promising, but the reality is that the current national plans across the globe fall short of what is required, and there will be an increase in global greenhouse gas emission projected by 2030, compared to 2010.
As a profession with a moral duty to protect people's health, we have to advocate for more aggressive climate action, and decarbonize our health care service.
