Reducing Healthcare’s Carbon Footprint: How Hospitals Can Lead the Way in Sustainability

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Imane El Maimouni is a 22-year-old fifth-year Moroccan medical student at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca. 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.

Hospitals are uniquely positioned to lead on climate action. As high-energy, high-procurement institutions with a core mission of protecting health, they can integrate sustainability into everyday operations. The key is to treat it like patient safety: measure it, manage it, and embed it into routine practice.

A hospital’s carbon footprint typically comes from three main sources. First is on-site energy use, including electricity and fuels for heating, cooling, ventilation, sterilization, and medical equipment. These emissions are often the most visible and, in many cases, the easiest to reduce through efficiency and electrification.

Second are clinical sources such as anesthetic gases and refrigerants, which can have a disproportionately high climate impact due to their global warming potential.

Third, and often largest, is the supply chain. Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, construction materials, and logistics contribute significantly to total emissions. This means hospitals can reduce their footprint not only by consuming less energy, but also by purchasing differently and engaging suppliers.

To address these sources, hospitals can implement several high-impact strategies.

Improving energy efficiency is a foundational step. Measures such as better metering, optimized building controls, high-efficiency HVAC systems, and LED lighting can significantly reduce demand while maintaining clinical standards. Lower energy use also makes the transition to cleaner energy more feasible.

Electrification and clean energy adoption are the next major levers. Shifting from fossil fuels to electricity, through technologies like heat pumps, combined with on-site solar or renewable energy purchasing, can substantially cut emissions while maintaining operational reliability.

Targeting clinical “hotspots,” particularly anesthetic gases, offers another opportunity. Reducing the use of high-impact gases, minimizing leaks, and adopting low-flow anesthesia techniques can lower emissions without compromising quality of care when guided by clinical evidence.

Waste reduction is also critical. While hospitals generate large waste streams, the greatest impact often comes from prevention rather than recycling. Improving waste segregation, reducing unnecessary single-use items, and optimizing food and material use can all contribute to lower emissions.

Procurement plays a central role in decarbonization. Hospitals can require suppliers to disclose emissions, prioritize lower-carbon products, and integrate environmental criteria into purchasing decisions. Because supply chain emissions are substantial, even small changes in procurement can have large effects.

Progress depends on strong governance and measurement. Establishing an emissions baseline, assigning accountability, tracking key indicators, and integrating sustainability into planning and procurement processes help turn ambition into measurable outcomes.

In summary, hospitals can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on energy use, clinical emissions, and supply chains. A practical approach starts with efficiency, then advances to electrification, clinical improvements, and procurement reform. Importantly, sustainability must be a collective effort involving clinicians, administrators, and leadership.

By institutionalizing emissions management as part of quality improvement, hospitals can achieve both immediate reductions and long-term transformation, positioning themselves as leaders in climate action and public health.

Resources: 

https://global.noharm.org/focus/climate/health-care-climate-footprint-report

https://anaesthetists.org/Home/Resources-publications/Environment/Guide-to-green-anaesthesia/Nitrous-oxide

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/measuring-greenhouse-gas-emissions-in-the-health-sector_4d15c6ef-en.html

About the author

Imane El Maimouni is a 22-year-old fifth-year Moroccan medical student at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, with a deep passion for art and writing. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) through Medec’IN-Casa.