The Carbon Footprint of Transport Activities of the 401 Military General Hospital of Athens

Abstract

It is a scientifically accepted fact that climate change constitutes a major challenge for the future well-being of the whole humanity. Medical and hospital care facilities generate their own greenhouse emissions. Hospital transportation activities encompass not only the transportation of patients and medical personnel but also the operation of transportation assets associated with the logistical support of hospital operations. The present research focuses on the carbon footprint of the transportation functions and activities of the 401 Military General Hospital of Athens (401 MGHA), in order to serve as a starting point for the development of an action plan for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the hospital-based healthcare of the Hellenic (Greek) Army. Based on this, a simple and easily operated monitoring scheme of the greenhouse gas emissions of the transport activities and a portfolio of mitigation actions are proposed. The estimation of the carbon footprint of the transport activities, and of the other stationary emission sources of the hospital (energy consumption, waste treatment, etc.) of the 401 MGHA, will be the starting point for the development of an action plan for the estimation and mitigation of GHG emissions in the hospital-based healthcare of Greece.