Abstract
Carbon footprints stemming from health care have been found to be variable, from 3% of the total national CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions in England to 10% of the national CO2e emissions in the USA. We aimed to measure the carbon footprint of Australia's health-care system. We did an observational economic input-output lifecycle assessment of Australia's health-care system. All expenditure data were obtained from the 15 sectors of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for the financial year 2014-15. The Australian Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab) data were used to obtain CO2e emissions per AUS$ spent on health care. In 2014-15 Australia spent $161·6 billion on health care that led to CO2e emissions of about 35 772 (68% CI 25 398-46 146) kilotonnes. Australia's total CO2e emissions in 2014-15 were 494 930 kilotonnes, thus health care represented 35 772 (7%) of 494 930 kilotonnes total CO2e emissions in Australia. The five most important sectors within health care in decreasing order of total CO2e emissions were: public hospitals (12 295 [34%] of 35 772 kilotonnes CO2e), private hospitals (3635 kilotonnes [10%]), other medications (3347 kilotonnes [9%]), benefit-paid drugs (3257 kilotonnes [9%]), and capital expenditure for buildings (2776 kilotonnes [8%]). The carbon footprint attributed to health care was 7% of Australia's total; with hospitals and pharmaceuticals the major contributors. We quantified Australian carbon footprint attributed to health care and identified health-care sectors that could be ameliorated. Our results suggest the need for carbon-efficient procedures, including greater public health measures, to lower the impact of health-care services on the environment. None.
Highlights
The health effects of climate change are becoming increasingly important, with more frequent direct effects such as heat stress and fires, water inundations, and storms, and indirect effects including malnutrition from crop failures, and altered infectious disease patterns.[1]
Added value of this study We found that the carbon footprint attributed to health care was 7% of Australia’s total; that is, similar to the entire carbon emissions of all activities associated with 7% of Australians
In 2014–15 the total CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions stemming from Australian health-care categories were about 35 772 kilotonnes
Summary
The health effects of climate change are becoming increasingly important, with more frequent direct effects such as heat stress and fires, water inundations, and storms, and indirect effects including malnutrition from crop failures, and altered infectious disease patterns.[1] Health care itself has been shown to contribute to climate change.[2,3] In particular, hospitals are highly energy intensive, consume large amounts of resources, and produce a large amount of waste.[4] There are personal, financial, and environmental benefits from reducing our reliance on hospital-based health care and improving availability of public health. Personal health benefits arise from more frequent exercise, reduced obesity, the consumption of more plant-based foods, and reduced smoking and alcohol intake. Such personal benefits give rise to environmental co-benefits through reduced car use, fewer methane-producing ruminants, and fewer hospital admissions from chronic ill health.[4,5]
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