The carbon footprint of Australian health care

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.