Climate change is a non-refutable dawning reality that is already being felt in different countries across the globe. This human induced phenomenon is already eroding the delicate balance of ecosystems in many economic sectors. Health sector impacts on climate change are beginning to be seen in various countries.
There is still inadequate data on the level of carbon footprint which the health sector contributes globally. In Zimbabwe for example the health sector is not forecast when surveys are being done and hence might be covered under the ‘other’ category (a group which is considered to encompass other contributing factors with no specifics). If a robust system climate change management system is to be employed, there is need to consider aligning all contributors and their specific contributing rates. This allows for the employment of different climate change mitigation and resilient strategies such as the green industry initiative, green hotels and green hospitals.
A first ever made estimation of the health care sector’s emission contribution by the World Bank in 2011, stated that health care generates 5% of world’s greenhouse gas emissions, adding up to 2.6 billion metric tons of CO2e. This is according to a report made by the Global Green and Health Hospitals in 2015.
The Environmental Protection Agency recognises the health sector as having a fairly significant impact on their surrounding environment and thus contributing to the ‘biggest threat of the 21st Century’, climate change. Approximately 2.4 million tons of waste are injected from the health sector into the environment for processing and disposal every year. A lot of infectious, hazardous and toxic waste is generated, most of which cannot be directly deposited into the general hospital bin to be sent to the dumpsite, but will have to be incinerated to destroy any infectious pathogens.
Hospital waste is not the only cause of concern. The health sector also contributes largely through the use of mercury in medical devices and equipment, very high energy consumption during machinery operation and lighting, high water usage, greenhouse gas emissions from incineration of waste and running coal fired boilers. The processes of running a generator as an electricity backup and vehicle emissions in transporting goods and patients to the hospitals are also part of ecological footprints. In a nutshell, the health sector releases greenhouse gases while delivering care, procuring products and technologies from a carbon intensive supply chain. The health sector does contribute to environmental degradation which in turn contributes to climate change. High consumption of energy, release of solid and liquid waste, hazardous waste from the day to day operations require environmental management plans. The health care sector can contribute greatly by employing resilience and low-carbon development initiatives within their sector, while at the same time working towards improving population health.
