Breaking Down Silos: The Multidisciplinary Future of Green Healthcare

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Mai Sugimoto is a UK-based Japanese medical student currently intercalating a Master’s in Public Health, with a strong interest in global health, particularly health economics. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

The healthcare sector’s environmental footprint is more substantial than many realise. Contributing roughly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions—doubling aviation’s 2.5%—hospitals and healthcare facilities face an urgent imperative to transform their operations. With G20 countries accounting for over 75% of these emissions, the responsibility for change lies heavily with developed nations.

The Climate-Health Paradox

Healthcare facilities exist in a paradoxical relationship with climate change: they contribute to the problem while simultaneously being vulnerable to its effects. Floods, hurricanes, and wildfires increasingly threaten hospital operations, with one recent study estimating that 1 in 12 hospitals worldwide could face total or partial shutdown by 2100 if temperatures rise 4.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Most at-risk facilities are located in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the intersection of climate vulnerability and health equity.

Leading by Example: Circular Economy in Action

Wales’ Velindre Cancer Centre, scheduled to open in Spring 2027, exemplifies transformational thinking in its mission to become the UK’s most sustainable hospital. The facility incorporates circular economy principles—a revolutionary departure from the traditional “take, make, waste” linear model that drives climate crisis and biodiversity loss. This circular approach emphasises sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials throughout their lifecycle, utilising low-carbon, bio-based materials that can circulate continuously within the system.

The Power of Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Creating truly sustainable healthcare requires breaking down professional silos. Effective transformation demands collaboration between healthcare professionals, public health practitioners, architects, urban health planners, and economists. This need for systems thinking was highlighted at “Greening London: boosting urban biodiversity,” a London Climate Action Week event where speakers challenged professionals to “push yourselves and think beyond your specialism.”

Empowering Future Healthcare Leaders

Medical students and younger professionals have vital roles in this transformation. By developing awareness and understanding that extend beyond traditional medical boundaries, we can champion proactive workplace health promotion initiatives that yield significant co-benefits: fostering healthier populations, boosting productivity, and improving quality of life even amid climate challenges.

A Holistic Vision for Sustainability

True sustainability in healthcare transcends environmental metrics alone. It requires addressing social determinants of health, ensuring equitable access to care, and reducing health disparities. This comprehensive approach demands input from public health experts, policymakers, and community leaders, ensuring that sustainability efforts align with population-wide well-being.

As healthcare facilities worldwide grapple with their environmental impact, the path forward is clear: embrace circular economy principles, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and maintain unwavering focus on health equity. The transformation of hospitals into sustainable, climate-resilient facilities isn’t just an environmental imperative—it’s a fundamental requirement for protecting public health in an era of climate change.

About the author

Mai Sugimoto is a UK-based Japanese medical student currently intercalating a Master’s in Public Health, with a strong interest in global health, particularly health economics. A recent member of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), she is passionate about improving child health, healthcare financing, and planetary health. Driven and committed, she aims to contribute meaningfully to tackling today’s pressing public health challenges.