In recent years, the growing frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change has prompted nations around the world to invest substantial resources and for industries to rethink their operational models in pursuit of energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainable development. 

Among these, the healthcare sector—due to its essential and highly specialized nature—has attracted significant attention.
This article discusses how the healthcare industry can adapt and align itself within this global wave of sustainability, balancing multiple dimensions of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations.   

Bryant Chen, Medical Affairs Manager, Beyond BioMedical Inc.

Current Status of Carbon Emissions in Healthcare 

Healthcare institutions, given their vital role in maintaining public health and managing emergencies, inevitably consume large amounts of energy to sustain daily operations.This energy consumption encompasses electricity use, medical products and waste generated during clinical processes—including chemicals, medical instruments, and infectious waste—as well as transportation associated with hospital staff, patient visits, and business travel. 

Collectively, these factors contribute to substantial carbon emissions.
According to global statistics, the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint is estimated at 2 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e), accounting for approximately 4.4% of total global emissions—comparable to the annual emissions of 514 coal-fired power plants.
If considered as a single country, the global healthcare system would rank as the fifth-largest emitter in the world. 

Among nations, the United States has the highest share of healthcare-related emissions, representing 7.6% of its national total, followed by Japan (6.4%), South Korea (5.3%), the European Union (4.7%), and China (3.1%).
Despite being a small island nation, Taiwan’s healthcare sector accounts for 4.6% of national emissions—higher than the global average—largely due to its comprehensive and well-developed healthcare system.

According to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), emissions are categorized into three scopes:

• Scope 1 – Direct emissions (17%):Emissions from owned or controlled sources such as hospital equipment, vehicles, production processes, and on-site waste treatment. 

• Scope 2 – Indirect energy emissions (12%):Emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam used to power healthcare facilities. 

• Scope 3 – Other indirect emissions (71%):Emissions from sources not owned or directly controlled by the institution, including supply chains (food services, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, respirators, construction materials, logistics), as well as patient and staff commuting, business travel, waste disposal, and water use. 

The Taiwanese government is actively advancing its net-zero carbon and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, with the healthcare sector expected to take concrete actions to enhance energy efficiency and implement sustainability practices.
These efforts are critical to achieving Taiwan’s national goals of carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Strategic Approaches and Implementation Measures 

According to the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy (TAISE), achieving sustainable healthcare development requires hospitals to adopt a multi-dimensional ESG strategy encompassing environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance： 

• Environmental Protection

  Healthcare institutions can adopt initiatives such as:

  Establishing sustainability and environmental policies

  Implementing greenhouse gas management systems

  Promoting energy generation and conservation programs

  Enhancing pollution prevention and control

  Strengthening occupational safety, disaster prevention, and information security

  Improving waste management and recycling systems

• Social Responsibility

  Hospitals should focus on:

  Human resource development and career advancement

  Gender equality and workplace health

  Employee welfare and rights

  Community engagement and social care initiatives

  Healthcare collaborations for vulnerable populations

• Corporate Governance

  Efforts can include:

  Refining management structures and operational strategies

  Upholding medical ethics and accreditation standards

  Supporting research and innovation

  Ensuring stakeholder engagement

  Promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance

Government-Led Support and Transition Programs

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) in Taiwan has also implemented several strategies to accelerate green transformation within healthcare institutions, including:

• Green Building Standards
  Coordination between public health authorities and hospital planners to ensure that newly built or expanded medical facilities meet green building certification requirements. 

• Energy Efficiency Incentives
  Financial support and subsidies from the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, to encourage the adoption of energy-saving technologies and practices. 

• Net-Zero Transition Programs
  Collaboration with professional organizations to promote hospital-level net-zero carbon projects, develop training programs for sustainability professionals, and conduct public awareness campaigns. 

Outlook: Toward Net-Zero Healthcare by 2050

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 has become a global consensus.
For the healthcare sector, realizing this goal requires not only robust policy planning and regulatory frameworks, but also proactive engagement from healthcare providers to implement sustainability measures across operations, supply chains, and clinical practices.

Only through collaborative efforts between government, industry, and healthcare institutions can true environmental sustainability be achieved—ensuring that the healthcare systems of the future remain both resilient and responsible.

For further information, please contact: Bryant.chen@be.tworg.app