Green transition in health and care services
Environmental sustainability and the green transition are emerging priorities for health and care systems. Health and care services contribute significantly to CO₂ emissions. Sustainable health and care services extend beyond technology to include behaviors, practices and service environments. Interest in environmental issues is growing among policymakers, health and care staff and citizens. Collaborative efforts, such as communities of practice, are crucial for promoting knowledge-sharing and fostering sustainable changes in health and care systems.
Environmental sustainability and green
transition are a relatively new focus in health and care systems, which have
traditionally emphasised economic and social sustainability. However, the
climate crisis and its links to health system challenges are gaining attention.
Health and care services contribute significantly to CO₂ emissions—about 5–15%
in industrialized nations—highlighting the need for action. At the same time,
many health and care systems face pressures such as aging populations and
economic constraints. Digital technologies are seen as a key solution to
addressing growing service demands, but their successful and sustainable
integration relies on factors like organisational support, education and
capacity-building. These factors also determine whether such innovations will
be stable and beneficial in the long term.
Sustainable health and care services involve more than just technology; they extend to adopting sustainable behaviours, practices, service environments and broader systems, as has been emphasised by, for example, World Health Organization (2023). While environmental sustainability has not been a primary driver of health and care system development, interest in the topic is increasing among policymakers, health and care workers and citizens. Challenges such as resistance and hierarchical structures within organisations can act as barriers. Nevertheless, fostering participation and collaboration—especially through informal networks like communities of practice—can empower health and care professionals and providers. These actors should encourage and engage in peer interaction, learning and knowledge sharing, which are crucial for driving change.
CARING NATURE and green transition in health and care services
This website has been developed as part of the CARING NATURE project. CARING NATURE has the ambition to develop and test 10 innovative solutions to reduce the impact of the healthcare sector on the environment, without interfering with the safety of patients and operators. This 3-year collaborative project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe research and innovation program is involving 19 partners, including Health and Care providers, Universities SMEs and Industries from 11 European countries.
The CARING NATURE project contributes to lowering the carbon footprint of the health and care sector by:
- Reducing the environmental impact of buildings, waste and patients' travel
- Increasing governance capability and staff engagement towards this reduction
The project's outcomes will be sustainable solutions for green health and care, which will be economically effective, affordable and acceptable by patients, citizens and workers.
Further information:
The CARING NATURE project.
World Health Organization. (2023). Operational framework for building climate resilient and low carbon health systems. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidance for climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities. World Health Organization.