Hong Kong Green Healthcare
Health Care's Climate Footprint
According to a report by Health Care Without Harm, the global health care sector emits 2 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year in 2014.
By examining the value chain of the health care industry, we can see greenhouse gas is generated by upstream activities, on-site operational activities, and downstream activities.
Supply Chain
Emission from manufacturing and transporting all products used in delivering health service
Catering
Emission from producing livestock and crops, changing land use, food processing and transporting products
Travel
Emission from traveling of staff, patients and visitors in and out of health centres
Sources of greenhouse gas emission in healthcare delivery
Hospital Fleet
Emission from vehicles owned by the hospital
Purchased Energy
Emission from energy generation, used for HVAC, lighting, sterilization and powering medical devices
Anaesthetic Gas
Emission from the use of anaesthetic gases, which are potent greenhouse gases
Fossil Fuel Use
Emission from on-site fossil fuel combustion for energy generation and cooking
Coolant
Emission from leakage of hydrofluorocarbons from refrigerators and air conditioning units
Inhaler
Emission from metered dose inhalers, which uses hydrofluorocarbons as propellants
Waste
Emission from transport, treatment and disposal of wastes, including incineration
Commissioned Services
Emission from other service providers, such as building maintenance, transportation services
Investment
Emission financed by investing in emission-intensive companies, such as fossil fuel companies
Mapping our carbon footprint
This chart is from a report from Health Care Without Harm. It shows a breakdown of the global health care emission.
Mapping our carbon footprint is of huge value because it allows areas of opportunities to be identified. Because the pattern varies a lot between different countries and institutions, it is important to map out individual organization's footprint, in order to tailor carbon reduction strategies.
Click here to see the report 'Delivering a Net Zero NHS', where a carbon footprint mapping of a health system was demonstrated.
Useful links and resources
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Health Care Without Harm: Health Care Climate Footprint Report
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Greener NHS: Delivering a Net Zero NHS report