Climate change increasingly threatens our health and poses major challenges for healthcare systems. Dr Ruperta Lichtenecker from the Competence Center for Climate and Health at the Austrian National Public Health Institute shares her expertise on sustainable strategies to promote health, strengthen social justice, and secure the future of our healthcare system.
Climate change has long been evident, with extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, and an increase in allergies posing not only a threat to individual health but also an increasing burden on the healthcare system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that climate change is the greatest health threat of the 21st century. To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, rapid and comprehensive measures are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, including healthcare. The healthcare sector alone is responsible for 5.9% to 6.7% of national CO₂ emissions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The healthcare system’s impact on the environment goes beyond its energy consumption. A part of its related greenhouse gas emissions stem from transportation, including supply deliveries and health staff commuting. And as a provider of meals to both patients and staff, its choice of products, ingredients, and suppliers can further contribute to pollution. Facilities also require many resources and products – often single-use items – adding to waste.
But the healthcare sector does not just contribute to climate change. In fact, it is both affected by and contributing to it. The mental and physical health consequences of climate breakdown increase demand for health services, while extreme weather events may damage facilities, create power outages, and lead to supply and staff shortages. Analyses show that the consequential costs of climate change will be highest in the healthcare sector if no action is taken. Being so climate-relevant, the healthcare sector thus has a corresponding need for action.
The many negative consequences of the climate crisis, the enormous associated costs, the nationally and internationally defined and binding targets and frameworks, and the experts' recommendations show the urgency of comprehensive action in the healthcare sector regarding climate protection.
Achieving a triple win: improving healthcare sustainability, health, and social justice
Climate protection and sustainability measures in healthcare facilities are important contributions to mitigating the effects of climate change, promoting health, and ensuring the safety and quality of healthcare. Ecological sustainability in the healthcare sector goes beyond pure environmental protection, as it creates conditions that help reduce health and social inequalities overall.
For instance, constructing climate-friendly healthcare facilities with efficient ventilation systems and greenery reduces emissions, improves air quality as well as the micro- and indoor climate, and protects against heat. This has a particularly beneficial impact on patients and their recovery process. Providing greenery in both outdoor and indoor spaces further improves the mental wellbeing of patients and strengthens employees' ability to concentrate and relax.
Care facilities require a lot of energy to provide services and ensure patient care and safety. Expanding the use of renewable energy helps reduce energy prices, which in turn prevents energy poverty. Strengthening and facilitating sustainable mobility solutions, such as public transport, e-mobility, cycling, and walking, for both employees and patients reduces emissions and improves the accessibility of healthcare facilities. This is a crucial factor, particularly in emergencies.
When it comes to meals and procurement, there are further opportunities to reduce environmental impact that also benefit health. Regional, seasonal, healthy, organic, and fairly produced food and plant-based meals require fewer resources and promote the health of patients and employees, regardless of their social status. Basing procurement on the principles of resource conservation, sustainability, and the circular economy saves resources and costs, in turn protecting the functionality of the healthcare system and ensuring access to care for all.
Secure and sustainable supply systems are a central pillar for the provision of care for all people, and especially for vulnerable groups. Using renewable energies and reusable products and creating diverse, regional, and sustainable supply chains for food, medicines, and medical products secure that supply.
Looking at the impact of sustainability measures, it is clear: improving the sustainability of the healthcare system not only reduces emissions and costs but also contributes to social justice.
In an economy of wellbeing – where the economy’s success is measured by its impact on wellbeing – investments in the sustainability of healthcare systems are the obvious choice. They improve the wellbeing of people and the planet and help put in motion a transition towards a society that is healthy and fair.
Austrian initiatives pave the way for sustainable healthcare systems
In Austria, specific strategies and projects for the sustainable transformation of the healthcare system have been developed and implemented in recent years. They are now considered best practice, both internationally and nationally.
One milestone reached is Austria’s Strategy for a Climate Neutral Healthcare System, which was developed by the Climate Neutrality and Sustainable Transformation Department of the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. The strategy was created through a participatory process involving decision-makers, stakeholders, and experts. It was publicly presented in July 2024 by the responsible Minister of Social Affairs and Health and experts, and is the central basis for ensuring that the healthcare system and healthcare facilities are developed in a climate-friendly, sustainable and health-promoting manner.
The ‘Consultation for Climate Friendly Healthcare Facilities’ project supports healthcare facilities in Austria with specific expertise and support in developing climate-friendly, health-promoting, and sustainable facilities. Hospitals, retirement and care facilities, primary care centres, outpatient clinics, doctor clinics, and pharmacies are supported in developing and implementing concrete climate protection measures. All relevant fields of action are considered, including buildings and energy, mobility, green spaces, resource and waste management, sustainable procurement, and nutrition. As of April 2025, 502 healthcare facilities are participating in the project, including 131 hospitals and 135 retirement and care facilities.
The course ‘Climate Managers in Healthcare Facilities’ aims to strengthen the skills of employees in the healthcare sector and to implement health promotion and climate protection in healthcare facilities. More than 80 employees have already completed the course.
A climate-neutral and sustainable healthcare system is essential for the future viability of our healthcare system. It protects the health of the population, preserves our livelihoods, and strengthens the system in the face of future challenges.
Climate protection is health protection, and health protection is human protection!
Dr Ruperta Lichtenecker
Dr Ruperta Lichtenecker is the Head of the Competence Centre for Climate and Health, based at the Austrian National Public Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich Gmbh, GÖG). As an economist and researcher, her work focuses on fields including the sustainability of healthcare systems, environmental, health and energy economics, climate protection, health promotion, foresight, and crisis management.