Measuring greenhouse gas emissions in health systems

This guidance document defines a common approach for health system emissions measurement that is aligned with international standards and best practice. It also sets out how health systems can develop the necessary internal capabilities to measure their emissions consistently and effectively over time.

It was developed as an ATACH technical product of the Task Team on measuring greenhouse gas emissions in health systems, co-led by the Word Health Organization, Centre for Sustainable Medicine (CoSM) at the National University of Singapore and the National Health Service (NHS) England.

This guidance is complemented by a series of country case studies demonstrating different approaches and methodologies to measure GHG emissions in the health sector:

• Measuring the greenhouse gas footprint of the health system in the Philippines
• Measuring the environmental footprint of the Dutch healthcare sector
• Thai Hospitals Emissions Management System (THEMS)
• Baseline estimates of Australia’s health system greenhouse gas emissions
• Understanding the carbon footprint of the National Health Service in England

Intended users

Ministries of health, national health agencies, subnational health authorities and technical analysts, as well as academic and implementation partners.