In collaboration with Health Care Without Harm, Arup has estimated the healthcare sector’s global climate footprint, establishing for the first time the significance of healthcare’s contribution to the climate emergency.

Healthcare’s climate footprint is 4.4% of the global total; meaning if it were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet. With a footprint of this size, it becomes clear that healthcare can play a vital role in mitigating mankind’s climate impact.

The report also identifies key sources of emissions, a first step in establishing a routemap for healthcare’s transition towards a Paris Agreement-compliant emissions trajectory, thereby aligning global health goals with global climate goals.