The carbon footprint of Australian health care

Summary

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Findings

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%]).

Interpretation

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.

Funding

None.