Measuring greenhouse gas emissions in health systems

Overview

Climate change is a growing health crisis, driving increased mortality from heat, malnutrition, and disease, and placing increasing pressure on health systems worldwide. Despite the Paris Agreement goal of limiting long-run warming to 1.5 °C, global temperatures have already exceeded this threshold over the course of a single year. The health sector contributes to approximately 5% of global emissions. It is imperative that health systems rapidly prepare for further increases in global temperatures, while also reducing their own carbon footprints.

Measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is central to credible decarbonization planning over the long term. It enables target-setting, identification of emissions hotspots, design of interventions, public accountability, and tracking of progress over time. Without GHG emissions measurement, action risks being misdirected, unaccountable, ineffective or insufficient to meet national and global climate targets.

This document has two aims. First, it defines a common approach for health system emissions measurement that is aligned with international standards and best practice. Second, it sets out how health systems can develop the necessary internal capabilities to measure their emissions consistently and effectively over time.