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Planetary Health and Hospitals’ Contribution—A Scoping Review

Author

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  • Lara Schmidt

    (Chair of Management and Innovation in Health Care, Faculty of Management, Economics, and Society, Witten/Herdecke University, 58448 Witten, Germany)

  • Sabine Bohnet-Joschko

    (Chair of Management and Innovation in Health Care, Faculty of Management, Economics, and Society, Witten/Herdecke University, 58448 Witten, Germany)

Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest global threats for planetary and human health. This leads to new challenges for public health. Hospitals emit large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) in their healthcare delivery through transportation, waste and other resources and are considered as key players in reducing healthcare’s environmental footprint. The aim of this scoping review is to provide the state of research on hospitals’ carbon footprint and to determine their contribution to mitigating emissions. We conducted a systematic literature search in three databases for studies related to measurement and actions to reduce GHG emissions in hospitals. We identified 21 studies, the oldest being published in 2012, and the most recent study in 2021. Eight studies focused on GHG emissions hospital-wide, while thirteen studies addressed hospital-based departments. Climate actions in the areas of waste and transportation lead to significant reductions in GHG emissions. Digital transformation is a key factor in implementing climate actions and promoting equity in healthcare. The increasing number of studies published over time indicates the importance of the topic. The results suggest a need for standardization of measurement and performance indicators on climate actions to mitigate GHG emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lara Schmidt & Sabine Bohnet-Joschko, 2022. "Planetary Health and Hospitals’ Contribution—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13536-:d:946930
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Josep Vidal-Alaball & Jordi Franch-Parella & Francesc Lopez Seguí & Francesc Garcia Cuyàs & Jacobo Mendioroz Peña, 2019. "Impact of a Telemedicine Program on the Reduction in the Emission of Atmospheric Pollutants and Journeys by Road," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-7, November.
    2. Myoung Su Park & Ki Hwan Park & Gyung Jin Bahk, 2018. "Interrelationships between Multiple Climatic Factors and Incidence of Foodborne Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Cimprich & Steven B. Young, 2023. "Environmental footprinting of hospitals: Organizational life cycle assessment of a Canadian hospital," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1335-1353, October.
    2. Marieke Sijm-Eeken & Monique Jaspers & Linda Peute, 2023. "Identifying Environmental Impact Factors for Sustainable Healthcare: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-16, September.

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