The healthcare and social welfare sector has a significant carbon footprint
The effects of the healthcare and social welfare sector on the environment are significant. Based on a detailed calculation of the 2019 data, the healthcare and social welfare sector accounts for 6.5 per cent of Finland's total carbon footprint. This is a significant portion. The main sources of emissions are district heating used by buildings, fuel and electricity, transport services, expert services, and food and accommodation.
The calculation is based on extensive research carried out in the Ecologically sustainable healthcare and social welfare (EKO-SOTE) project. The project proposed national steering measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the healthcare and social welfare sector and to support ecological sustainability.
"In order to reduce the environmental impact, we will need extensive national steering aimed specifically at the healthcare and social welfare sector," says Saija Iivonen, Researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
"The healthcare and social welfare sector consumes considerable amounts of energy and materials, and its operations generate direct and indirect emissions that have a significant impact on climate change and environmental load."
The project experts propose setting "Carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly healthcare and social welfare by 2035" as the national objective for ecologically sustainable healthcare and social welfare. The steering mechanism for the initial stage would be to include the objective in the national strategic steering of the sector. The proposal, prepared in collaboration with the wellbeing services counties and other operators, also includes the formation of a national network coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, targeted project funding, and monitoring the ecological sustainability of the sector with minimum indicators.
"When examining the environmental impacts of healthcare, the big picture should always be considered. Preventing illnesses and promoting health and welfare are the most effective ways of reducing the environmental load caused by healthcare. The concept of planetary health and welfare helps us understand this big picture", says Chief Physician Mikaela Grotenfelt-Enegren from THL's Environmental Health Unit.
Planetary health and welfare a foundation for sustainable development
Planetary health and welfare refers to the fact that there is an inextricable dependency between human wellbeing and environmental health. In its goals for influencing, THL proposes placing planetary health and welfare at the heart of decision-making in order to promote the health and welfare of both people and the entire planet simultaneously.
Contact information
Saija Iivonen
Researcher
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Tel. +358 29 524 8337
E-mail: [email protected]
Mikaela Grotenfelt-Enegren
Chief Physician
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Tel. +358 29 524 8418
E-mail: [email protected]
Päivi Meriläinen
Senior Researcher
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Tel. +358 29 524 7826
E-mail: [email protected]
