Global climate footprint of the health care industry
1.1
The health sector, with the mission of protecting and promoting health, has made a "significant contribution" to the climate crisis, the greatest health threat of the 21st century, and therefore has an important role to play in addressing the climate crisis. The climate footprint of the health care industry is equivalent to 4.4 per cent of global net emissions (2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide), equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 514 coal-fired power plants. If the global health care industry were counted as a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.