When we think about the climate crisis and the key drivers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it seems easiest to target the sectors that have been widely blamed as the root cause, like fossil fuels, transport, and fast fashion.
However, when it comes to sectors that uphold our daily lives, how are we to scrutinize them?
Think about the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (United Nations, 2025).
The healthcare industry is absolutely necessary for global human prosperity, but this should not make us turn a blind eye to its climate footprint. In fact, if the global healthcare industry were a country, it would be the fifth-largest emitter of GHGs in the world (Bangert, 2024).
A Self-Reinforcing Disease
While necessary, healthcare sectors tend to drive environmental damage that in turn put human health at risk. Air, water, and soil pollutants have all been identified as causal factors for disease; from pharmaceuticals to hospitals, unintended consequences are prominent in every aspect of the system (Lenzen, 2020).
The average spending on healthcare among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is about 9% of gross domestic product (GDP). Conversely, the global environmental impacts stemming from the healthcare sector range between 1% and 5% of total impacts (Lenzen, 2020).
This makes me wonder why we continue to inject more spending into a system that simply reinforces itself instead of investing in redesigning the system altogether.
Searching for the Holistic Cure
In response to this dilemma, partnerships have begun to emerge to kickstart sustainability progress in the healthcare sector.
For instance, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement has designed the quintuple aim to enhance outcomes, improve patient experience, reduce costs, improve care team and physician experiences, and strive towards health equity (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2025).
To achieve better patient outcomes, however, a healthier environment may be the first step. This calls for meaningful partnerships between healthcare organizations and policymakers to streamline compliance (Bangert, 2024).
In a sector like healthcare, which holds the weight of human well-being on its back, partnerships should aim to make the most sustainable choice the easiest choice; many times, replacing existing practices that function properly is not a strategic priority, despite the negative externalities.
A promising development in this space is set to launch in 2026, put in motion by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Their plan involves voluntary climate reporting standards by providing healthcare organizations with an easy-to-implement template (Bangert, 2024).
Beyond a Band-Aid Fix
The Kaiser Permanente San Marcos Medical Center was conceived through the healthcare company’s collaboration with CO Architects, who are committed to “perpetual innovation and continual improvement” (Kaiser Permanente, 2024; CO Architects, 2025).
This new hospital in San Diego California achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation. This indicates that the building achieved 80+ points over a holistic set of criteria spanning climate change, human health, water resources, biodiversity, the green economy, community, and natural sources (U.S. Green Building Council, 2025).
This hospital of the future perhaps reflects a transactional partnership type – a sustained dyadic partnership that allows for improvement in a major part of the value chain. Bearing that in mind, I believe more work needs to be done in this space to achieve truly transformative approaches to healthcare that is sustainable for both the planet and individual well-being (Network for Business Sustainability, 2013).
How do you think healthcare organizations could expand their innovative partnerships with the brightest minds in design to shift the entire system and empower communities of all sizes?
CO Architects. (2025). https://coarchitects.com/
LEED rating system. U.S. Green Building Council. (2025). https://www.usgbc.org/leed
Hi Ashley!
Thank you very much for this really interesting blog post. It sheds light on a topic that is very much overlooked due to the nature of the healthcare system and people’s natural assumption that it would have minimal negative external impacts- especially on health itself. The idea by the CMS to implement voluntary climate reporting standards sounds very promising. Also, the fact they plan to offer easy-to-implement templates reinforces your previous idea that partnerships should aim to make the most sustainable choice the easiest choice. Although reporting would result in more work for healthcare organizations, the provision of these templates would likely make this decision more enticing. Fundamentally, most stakeholders within the healthcare industry have a genuine, authentic motivation towards helping those around them, whether that be advice, support or medical practices. Therefore, I believe your insights into how these organizations are causing environmental damage that in turn put human health at risk could be essential in persuading these stakeholders to take action within the industry. As you mentioned, partnerships and innovation is key, and bringing these issues to light would hopefully accelerate this need for change.
Thanks again.