Mandatory Reporting of Emissions to Achieve Net-Zero Health Care

Abstract

(N Engl J Med. 2022;387:2469–2476) Threats to human health from climate instability include food and water shortages, heat, modified disease-vector ranges and active seasons, wildfires, and severe weather-related events, all of which have the potential to disrupt health care delivery as well. With awareness of the contribution of greenhouse gasses and toxic emissions by the health care sector—~8.5% of emissions in the United States and 5% globally—many health care systems are prioritizing initiatives to achieve “net zero.” This refers to individual institution-led structures that support offsetting the release of greenhouse gas emissions by providing the means to neutralize their effect on the atmosphere. While many government organizations and consulting bodies to health care call for pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, voluntary initiatives will fall short of net-zero health care goals. A consensus is growing for the need to develop a standardized metric for reporting, promoting accountability, quantifying progress, and recognizing best practices. It is recommended that all health care delivery organizations (HCOs)—all inpatient, outpatient, residential, and support services—be required to report and measure greenhouse gas emissions, in step with the climate goals of other leading organizations to achieve net-zero emissions over the coming decades.