Potential for climate protection in hospitals

Abstract

Achieving national and international climate protection targets is a major challenge for many stakeholders. An often overlooked sector in this context is the healthcare sector. This is particularly significant because hospitals play a crucial role in sustainability. On the one hand, climate change poses the greatest global health threat of the 21^st century. Hospitals will inevitably face increasing challenges due to climate change, such as the emergence of new pathogens or if extreme heat exacerbates preexisting cardiovascular conditions, leading to more health complications. On the other hand, hospitals are energy-intensive and significantly contribute to climate change. In Germany, the healthcare sector accounts for 5.2 percent of CO₂ emissions, with hospitals being a major source. The need for energy-efficient modernization in hospitals is urgent, especially since they are part of our critical infrastructure. Ensuring their energy supply, even in crises, is vital for a resilient and independent energy system. Given the importance of climate protection in the healthcare sector, this article analyses which strategies hospitals should pursue to achieve climate protection targets and which measures should be prioritized. In addition, the analysis includes an estimation of the associated costs, providing a basis for understanding the financial implications of climate mitigation efforts in hospital settings. Through stakeholder workshops and a narrative literature review, we have identified 10 suitable climate protection measures for the hospital sector. Our initial cost analysis indicates that implementing these measures would require an investment of approximately 7.1 billion euros for the 315 hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia.