A new joint commentary by EASAC and FEAM, representing European Academies of Science and Medicine, emphasises the responsibility of the health sector to reduce its own GHG emissions, and work with other sectors to accelerate decarbonisation of the wider economy.
The growing and potentially disastrous effects of climate change on mental and physical health have come more into focus in recent years. They imply significantly increasing and unforeseen challenges for our health care.
Ironically, the health sector itself is responsible for 5% of European greenhouse gas emissions and thus contributes to an increasingly unhealthy future, unless it takes action quickly. “With healing as its mission, the health care sector has good reasons to become a leader in climate solutions. In some countries, we already see pioneering initiatives by the health sector to cut its carbon footprint,” explains Prof. Dr. Volker ter Meulen, Chair of EASAC’s Biosciences Programme.
The commentary builds on further analysis by the Academies since publication of the EASAC report “The imperative of climate action to protect human health in Europe” in June 2019.
Read the press release and the commentary in full
The health care sector – leading the way to the net zero carbon economy