Climate change is the biggest health threat to humanity, profoundly impacting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demanding urgent attention and action. This study presents the evolution and domains of the ESG concept, along with the importance of sustainability reporting. The widely accepted standards for sustainability reporting have been enumerated. The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol has been discussed in detail, including Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (indirect), and Scope 3 (value chain) GHG emissions, along with Scope 4 (avoided emissions); and setting GHG targets. The SBTi criteria and recommendations for near-term and net-zero targets for GHG coverage of the seven GHGs covered by UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and GHG Protocol are also presented. The analysis of GHG emissions shows a significant increase since the start of the 21st century, rising from 36.18 to 52.96 Giga tons of CO2 equivalent (46.41%) between 2000 and 2023. In 2023, around 62.73% of global GHG emissions came from the top six contributors: China (30.10%), the USA (11.25%), India (7.8%), the EU27 (6.08%), Russia (5.05%), and Brazil (2.45%). The CAGR of GHG emissions with 1990 as the base year is negative for the EU27 (-1.25%), Japan (-0.71%), Russia (-0.42%, and the USA (-0.12%) against the global CAGR of +1.47%. Overall, emissions increased in 2023 compared to 2022 for the top contributors, except for the USA (-1.41%), the EU27 (-7.48%), and Japan (-6.01%). Further research is needed to assess progress toward climate change targets and to implement emission reduction strategies across all sectors in every country.

Toward climate neutral data centers: Greenhouse gas inventory, scenarios, and strategies.

Abstract Modern supply chains are vital to global commerce, but they are also major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As climate change intensifies, achieving carbon neutrality – particularly through supply chain decarbonisation – has become a global imperative. While organisations have made strides in reducing direct emissions, addressing indirect supply chain emissions presents greater complexity and urgency. We invite academic contributions that examine the challenges, enablers, potential risks, strategic approaches and innovative practices related to decarbonisation across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, service industries and humanitarian logistics. Emphasis is placed on holistic, multi-stakeholder approaches aligned with the GHG Protocol. The issue welcomes interdisciplinary research employing varied methodologies – ranging from empirical studies to conceptual frameworks – to inform practice, policy and sustainability transitions. By showcasing sector-specific insights and cross-cutting solutions, this issue aims to advance knowledge and action in building low-carbon, resilient supply chains.

ABSTRACT Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in society by acting as drivers of sustainability in their education, research, and outreach activities. While promoting sustainable practices, their activities also generate environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An exploratory literature review was conducted to evaluate inventories of GHG emissions and removals at Brazilian HEIs. Data from 12 HEIs that reported emissions using the GHG Protocol methodology between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. The results showed that the number of HEIs in Brazil that quantified their GHG emissions and removals is very limited. A considerable variation in the scopes and total volumes of emissions was observed, with scope 3 being the main emissions group for many HEIs, primarily due to emissions from commuting to campus. The capacity of HEIs to compensate for their emissions in green areas was limited and showed significant variation. The management of GHG emissions by HEIs can be improved by increasing the inventoried sources, standardizing methodologies, and developing specific reduction strategies for each scope. The adoption of these practices by HEIs may serve as a model for other institutions, amplifying the impact of GHG emission reduction actions across the country.

With the commitment of more and more universities to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, standardizing the modeling is now becoming urgent. To date, published climate-relevant emissions can be based on completely different and incomparable accounting methods, as shown with results between 6 and 2696 t CO2e for the use phase of the same campus. This article aims to identify, compare, and evaluate the different modeling approaches behind this. For this purpose, this article proposes basic attributes of emissions modeling and reporting. Of the three established approaches to emissions accounting, sector logic (territorial carbon accounting) produces the lowest figures. Reporting in accordance with the greenhouse gas protocol, which has become established worldwide, can also shift the responsibility outside the institutional consumer. Life-cycle assessment, instead, essentially includes provision costs triggered by the consumer. The different modeling approaches also overlap with different coverage of emission sources, for which a standard set is being proposed. Such emissions modeling should finally lead to the determination of university-specific climate performances, i.e., the CO2e emissions per capita and per m2 of gross floor area. Infrastructure and procurement expenses must be recorded in addition and converted to an annual average.

Although the majority of corporate emissions is assigned to the upstream and downstream value chain (Scope 3) rather than to direct emissions (Scope 1) and emissions from energy purchases (Scope 2), Scope 3 data are often insufficient, and their collection is complex due to many reference variables. Therefore, Scope 3 reporting by more than 4000 companies worldwide in 2022 is examined using data from the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). All fifteen categories of this Scope as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol are considered. To enhance the benchmarking results, corporate clusters based on size and industry are built after analyzing which factors significantly influence Scope 3.Based on the results, a benchmarking for the emissions per yearly turnover is carried out and examined on five case studies. As the manufacturing industry comprises various subindustries ranging from plastics to automotive, the cluster consisting big enterprises is further subdivided. Based on two case studies, it is possible to demonstrate that emission hotspots may be situated in diverse categories although companies belong to the same cluster. Companies can use the results for an initial estimation of category-specific Scope 3 emissions, e.g., regarding their sustainability reporting. The novelty of this work is a category-specific benchmarking of Scope 3 emissions considering corporate clusters based on companies worldwide and considering industry and size.

Objective: Analyze the feasibility of proposing a comprehensive methodology for inventorying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from urban waste, with the goal of enhancing the attractiveness of carbon credits and demonstrating their impacts on climate mitigation. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in theories related to climate change, the circular economy, and urban waste management. Global warming is discussed through the works of authors such as David Wallace-Wells and José Goldemberg, alongside concepts from the GHG Protocol and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Method: The methodology involves a bibliographic review, document analysis, and exploratory research using secondary and qualitative data. Scientific articles and documents from organizations such as the IPCC and EMBRAPA, among other academic sources, were utilized. Results and Discussion: The research emphasizes that proper management of urban waste, aligned with the principles of the circular economy, can substantially reduce GHG emissions. "Zero Waste" projects are analyzed as viable alternatives for mitigating emissions and obtaining carbon credits. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products is identified as crucial for inventorying emissions across various stages of the life cycle, thereby facilitating the certification process for carbon credits. Research Implications: The proposed methodology can encourage new investments in recycling and waste reuse, as well as support the establishment of waste treatment units that maximize resource recovery and minimize environmental impacts.Originality: This study contributes to the literature by presenting an innovative approach to the management of urban waste and carbon credits, highlighting the importance of LCA in certifying reduced emissions. Originality: This study contributes to the existing literature by introducing an innovative approach to urban waste management and carbon credits, underscoring the importance of LCA in the certification of reduced emissions.

The health-care sector and particularly the surgical sector are major contributors to the exacerbation of the global climate crisis. Little is known about the carbon emissions caused by surgical procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the carbon footprint associated with common orthopaedic surgical procedures. Eight surgical procedures (total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, shoulder arthroscopy, elective foot surgery, revision hip arthroplasty, and revision knee arthroplasty) were selected for analysis. The inventory process was performed according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all activity occurring in the operating room. The carbon footprint (in CO2 equivalents, CO2e) ranged between 53.5 kg for knee arthroscopy and 125.9 kg for revision knee arthroplasty. Energy consumption accounted for 57.5% of all emissions, followed by other indirect emissions (38.8%) and direct emissions (3.7%). The largest single contributors were the supply chain (34.6%) and energy consumption for ventilation, heating, and air conditioning (32.7%). Orthopaedic surgical procedures produce considerable amounts of CO2. Reduction in and greening of energy consumption, as well as the decarbonization of the supply chain, would have the greatest impact in reducing the carbon footprint of orthopaedic surgical procedures. Orthopaedic surgical procedures contribute to the climate crisis by emitting relevant amounts of CO2. It should therefore be imperative for all orthopaedic surgeons to endeavor to find solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of their practice.

According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol for cities, GHGs are responsible for an estimated 75 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. This represents a key opportunity to tackle climate change. With the year 2023 and, in particular, the month of July delivering record-breaking temperatures, this demonstrates a clear need to accelerate decarbonisation and, in this context, to reduce the carbon footprint of cities. Further, acting on urban development addresses a number of key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Many cities, however, are struggling to break away from a reliance on carbon and some are economically dependent on it. This paper seeks to investigate, through an energy justice lens, some first considerations of how to secure just and sustainable urban regeneration. It posits that energy justice, and its five core principles, is a useful analytical tool for considering the justice and development concerns related to the transition to a low-carbon world. The cities examined in brief in this comparative study are Bordeaux in France, Venice in Italy, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Bangkok in Thailand. The research posits that despite different trajectories, cities can play a leading role in ensuring justice and sustainability in our low-carbon world.

According to the greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol for cities, GHGs are responsible for an estimated 75 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. This represents a key opportunity to tackle climate change. With the year 2023 and, in particular, the month of July delivering record-breaking temperatures, this demonstrates a clear need to accelerate decarbonisation and, in this context, to reduce the carbon footprint of cities. Further, acting on urban development addresses a number of key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Many cities, however, are struggling to break away from a reliance on carbon and some are economically dependent on it. This paper seeks to investigate, through an energy justice lens, some first considerations of how to secure just and sustainable urban regeneration. It posits that energy justice, and its five core principles, is a useful analytical tool for considering the justice and development concerns related to the transition to a low-carbon world. The cities examined in brief in this comparative study are Bordeaux in France, Venice in Italy, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Bangkok in Thailand. The research posits that despite different trajectories, cities can play a leading role in ensuring justice and sustainability in our low-carbon world.

Summary This paper details the scope and framework applied for quantifying upstream Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of offshore drilling operations. A step-by-step methodological approach is presented, comprising environmental impact modeling of drilling and rig operational activities through the application of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The study aims to break down upstream Scope 3 emissions to a process level, demonstrating how upstream Scope 3 emissions can be quantified and evaluated to a greater detail level compared with what current Scope 3 reporting levels offer today. A North Sea drilling case study conducted in collaboration with a major drilling contractor is used for showcasing the impact burden levels, challenges, and prosperity of accounting, reporting, and tracking upstream Scope 3 emissions as a drilling contractor. A total of 141 drilling and rig operational activities were identified and prioritized for impact calculation, presenting a detailed breakdown of upstream Scope 3 emissions results for offshore well drilling. Impacts are quantified in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq.) emitted per day in operation. The study does not include downstream Scope 3 and reports limited to direct (Scope 1) emissions. Results show a total upstream Scope 3 emissions burden of 412 tCO2eq./d in operation. Of the eight assessed upstream Scope 3 categories, purchased goods account for the largest contribution of 32%. Activities related to the operation and maintenance of drilling equipment account for the largest impact contribution of 351 tCO2eq./d, corresponding to 86% of total upstream Scope 3 emissions. The reported outputs may serve as a benchmark for future Scope 3 accounting and reporting within the drilling industry, as well as for LCA inventories for oil and gas production. A set of system boundaries for assessing upstream Scope 3 emissions is suggested, along with recommended emission calculation methods. The presented framework may serve as an alternate supplement to the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) adapted version of the GHG Protocol’s Scope 3 Standard in terms of Scope 3 inventory boundary setting and data prioritization with relevance to drilling contractors, and finally to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) industry guideline for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.

Background and purposeHealthcare is responsible for 5.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Emissions in surgery is a relatively unexplored area; in particular, this hasn't yet been looked at as a whole in ENT in the UK. The purpose of the study was to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from a tonsillectomy and assess the proportion of each source's contribution. MethodsOperational data from tonsillectomies performed at a large university teaching hospital in the UK were gathered and converted to global warming potential using established conversion factors and data from existing healthcare-focused carbon footprint studies. The domains considered were waste, pharmaceuticals, surgical instrument decontamination, transportation, consumables use and utilities. This study used a process-based carbon footprint approach based on the “Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard”. Main findingsThe carbon footprint of a typical case was 41 kgCO2e which is equivalent to driving a car for approximately 150 miles. Consumables were responsible for 17% of this; 14% came from transport, 5.4% from decontamination, 4.8% from pharmaceuticals and 4% from waste. However, the largest GHG was from utilities, of which heating, ventilation and air conditioning was the overwhelming contributor. ConclusionsWhile the largest sources of GHG emissions require hospital-wide initiatives, there are aspects of consumables and waste streams we can improve on in ENT surgery. These include the use of disposable vs reusable instruments as well as increased availability and use of recycling waste streams in theatres. Additionally, this study provides a template that can be applied to other ENT procedures.

Healthcare services are significant contributors to climate change. Ophthalmology, by virtue of the volume of appointments and proceduresit generates, is thought to play a major role in this regard. Intravitreal injections (IVI) are a commonly performed ophthalmological procedure to treat patients with conditions such asmacular neovascularisation secondary to neovascular age-related macular disease or myopia, diabetic macular oedema, and retinal vein occlusions. As IVIs become more ubiquitous, addressing their environmental impact and sustainability will become increasingly important. Strategies to tackle carbon emissions from IVIs may target the following areas which align with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes: building energy; water consumption; travel to appointments; manufacture and procurement of the drug and other necessary materials; and waste disposal. We propose a path towards a more sustainable approach for IVIs, and discuss its potential safety as well as the patient experience.

e13564 Background: Hospitals contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and face a moral obligation to prioritize reduction of GHG emissions. Drugs constitute an important component of the GHG emissions of hospitals. Alternative dosing strategies (ADS) have been implemented to improve the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab and nivolumab (Table). However, the impact of these ADS on GHG emissions remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the effect of ADS implementation on the carbon footprint of treatment with pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Methods: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used to quantify the environmental impact. The impact category climate change was used to quantify the carbon emissions (CO2e). The GHG Protocol was used to categorize the emissions into scopes 1, 2 and 3. Life Cycle Inventory and Impact data from an academic hospital in Rotterdam were used in the LCA to calculate the CO2e for pembrolizumab and nivolumab, their different dosing intervals, and the impact of ADS. Results: In 2022, the carbon emissions related to nivolumab and pembrolizumab treatment were 445 tons CO2e, with an average of 94 kg CO2e per dosage. Pharmaceutical production was the main driver of treatment-related GHG emissions (93% of total emissions on average). Applying ADS, resulted in carbon emission reductions of 21.4-26.2% and 9.3-11.2% for pembrolizumab and nivolumab respectively (table 1). Conclusions: This study shows the substantial environmental impact of cancer treatments with pembrolizumab and nivolumab and calls for further implementation of ADS for pembrolizumab and nivolumab and other anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies and more sustainable pharmaceutical production processes. These findings help to create environmental awareness and contribute to the promotion and understanding of sustainable low-carbon healthcare practices. Overview of registered doses of pembrolizumab and nivolumab, alternative dosing strategies and potential reductions in GHG emissions, based on real world data in The Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. [Table: see text]

The increasing focus on environmental sustainability is becoming essential in the diagnostic imaging sector, which is accredited for about 10% of the healthcare industry’s carbon footprint. A multitude of research initiatives investigated the environmental impacts of diagnostic imaging, encompassing factors like electricity consumption, carbon emissions, and waste generation from these procedures. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) stands as a prominent method for structural assessment of environmental impacts, offering a detailed framework for examining the environmental consequences of specific processes. The aim of this study includes analyzing existing LCA approaches in literature to identify their limitations and to suggest an elaborate framework for LCA application in diagnostic imaging.Out of 17 original articles on environmental sustainability in radiology published since 2014, but only a part, 29.4% (5/17), described an LCA approach. The different characteristics of these studies provide valuable insights, enabling the proposal of a more comprehensive LCA research methodology.The reviewed articles did not present a uniform research outcome. According to the GreenHouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Standard, the optimal outcome for assessing environmental impact is the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions. For a thorough methodological approach in LCA, it is essential to cover all direct and indirect emissions associated with diagnostic imaging. All studies (100%, 5/5) considered the electricity consumption of imaging equipment. Usage of consumables was included in 80% (4/5) of the studies. Only 40% (2/5) of articles considered auxiliary equipment like computers and contrast-medium injectors, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Factors like equipment manufacture, staff travel, and waste generation, though crucial to overall greenhouse gas emissions, were each covered in only 20% (1/5) of the studies. The articles also varied in their LCA versions, with two employing the detailed Cradle-to-Grave approach, while others used partial Cradle-to-Gate and Input-Output LCA methods.The insights from this analysis could lead to a valuable framework for a new LCA methodological approach in diagnostic imaging. This novel approach is designed to overcome the limitations observed in existing research, offering a more comprehensive analysis. By enhancing the LCA framework, it will be possible identify the phases in diagnostic imaging that have the most substantial environmental impact, allowing for the development of more targeted strategies to reduce GHG emissions associated with diagnostic procedures.

The healthcare sector is responsible for 7% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Netherlands. However, this is not well understood on an organizational level. This research aimed to assess the carbon footprint of the Erasmus University Medical Center to identify the driving activities and sources. A hybrid approach was used, combining a life cycle impact assessment and expenditure-based method, to quantify the hospital's carbon footprint for 2021, according to scope 1 (direct emissions), 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy), and 3 (rest of indirect emissions) of the GHG Protocol. Results were disaggregated by categories of purchased goods and services, medicines, specific product groups, and hospital departments. The hospital emitted 209.5 kilotons of CO2-equivalent, with scope 3 (72.1%) as largest contributor, followed by scope 2 (23.1%) and scope 1 (4.8%). Scope 1 was primarily determined by stationary combustion and scope 2 by purchased electricity. Scope 3 was driven by purchased goods and services, of which medicines accounted for 41.6%. Other important categories were medical products, lab materials, prostheses and implants, and construction investment. Primary contributing departments were Pediatrics, Real Estate, Neurology, Hematology, and Information & Technology. This is the first hybrid analysis of the environmental impact of an academic hospital across all its activities and departments. It became evident that the footprint is mainly determined by the upstream effects in external supply chains. This research underlines the importance of carbon footprinting on an organizational level, to guide future sustainability strategies.

Climate change has serious consequences for our wellbeing. Healthcare systems themselves contribute significantly to our total carbon footprint, of which emissions from surgical practice are a major component. The primary sources of emissions identified are anaesthetic gases, disposal of single-use equipment, energy usage, and travel to and from clinical areas. We sought to quantify the waste generated by laser surgery which, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported. The carbon footprint of two laser centres operating within the United Kingdom were measured. The internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol was used as a guiding framework to classify sources of waste and conversion factors issued by the UK government were used to quantify emissions. The total carbon footprints per day at each unit were 299.181 carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCo2eq) and 121.512 kgCO2eq, respectively. We found the carbon footprint of individual laser treatments to be approximately 15 kgCO2eq per procedure. The biggest overall contributor to the carbon footprint was found to be the emissions generated from staff, patient and visitor travel. This was followed by electricity usage, and indirect emissions from physical waste and laundry. The carbon footprint of laser procedures was considerably less than the average surgical operation in the UK. This initial study measures the carbon footprint of a laser center in a clinical setting and allows us to identify where improvements can be made to eventually achieve a net carbon zero health care system.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires the measurement and reporting of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of companies and products in CO2-equivalent, considering all stages of their Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) where scopes 1, 2, and 3 emission categories are included. The GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard distinguishes between the “direct measurement” and ”indirect measurement”, i.e. activity-based measurement. The most accurate method would be to directly measure the GHG emissions. However, in many companies, this is not possible due to the unavailability of adequate measurement sensorics. For the activity-based LCA, the ISO14000 family of standards constructs an environmental management system by using a “technical” terminology. In contrast to that, the “E-Liability Accounting System” from Kaplan/Ramanna is casted in the language of financial and cost accounting. Accordingly, it presents the LCA of products GHG emission in a well-established and familiar theoretical foundation. The E-Liability Accounting System is constructed mainly at the conceptual level, as the activity-based GHG measurement and the distinction of scopes 1, 2, and 3 are not really operationalized. In this paper, these limitations are addressed by operationalizing the E-Liability Accounting System within the “3 Levers of Emission Control (3-LoEC)-modeling framework”. This framework allows the explicit specification of activity-based GHG measurement metrics all over the product’s life cycle. Due to the CSRD compliance, the 3-LoEC-modeling framework possesses practical validity. This carries over to its derived metrics. The applicability of the 3-LoEC-metrics is demonstrated in a use case, where a “food-bowl” is produced via injection molding technology.

Abstract The increased availability of remote sensing products and new legislative agendas are driving a growing focus on farm‐level traceability and monitoring to tackle commodity‐driven deforestation. Here, we use data on land use change in Brazil (1985–2021) from Mapbiomas to demonstrate how analyses of the drivers of deforestation are sensitive to the scale of analysis: while pixel‐ or property‐level analyses identify proximate drivers of deforestation, analyses at larger scales (subnational regions or countries) capture more complex land use dynamics, including indirect land use change. We argue that initiatives which seek to monitor and address commodity‐driven deforestation—such as the European Union's deforestation due‐diligence regulation and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development's Greenhouse Gas Protocol—must be conscient of these wider land use dynamics. Only by measuring progress and defining success at multiple scales can initiatives for sustainable commodity sourcing create the right mix of incentives for addressing deforestation.

ABSTRACT Air transport is energy-intense, and considerable attention has been paid to the sector's use of fuel and emissions of greenhouse gases. Commercial aviation is believed to currently emit about 1 Gt CO2 per year, if considering global bunker fuel use (scope 1 in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol). A growing database is becoming available on scope 1–3 emissions; this is, including up- and downstream emissions, and it is now possible to assess the aviation system's carbon intensity more comprehensively. This paper investigates the annual reports of 26 of the largest airlines in the world by market capitalisation, finding that reporting on emissions for scopes 1–3 is still inconsistent and characterised by reporting gaps. Yet, available data suggests that scope 3 emissions are significant (about 30% of scope 1 emissions). These findings have repercussions for the sector's net-zero ambitions, climate governance, consumer choices and air transport finance, as the overall contribution from air travel to climate change remains underestimated. Results suggest that it is in the sector's interest to present robust, transparent, consistent and accurate emission inventories – and to engage with the implications.