Climate Smart Healthcare

17 Sep Climate Smart Healthcare

Sustainable practices for removing medical waste

Biosecure is an environmentally focused company based in Florida with the means to convert medical waste into an alternative energy source. Through their “Earth Friendly” Thermal Friction process, waste is refined into a renewable energy source. It’s paramount for companies like Biosecure and other health-related industries to face the mounting issue of Climate-Smart Healthcare and recognize the importance of achieving smarter and more sustainable practices to ensure positive environmental impacts. Following this six-step action plan, healthcare industries and facilities can join in practice with Biosecure Waste solutions towards a healthier and more prosperous world.

Climate-Smart Healthcare Action Plan 

Action 1

 There’s no time to wait; it should be the utmost priority to have already begun reducing the healthcare industries’ climate footprint. At every level in the health sector, actors can incorporate the already ongoing work of thousands of other health systems focused on minimizing their climate footprint by achieving net-zero emissions. By following the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, net-zero admissions can be accomplished by:

• Taking immediate action to reduce, and ultimately, eliminate healthcare facility emissions.
• Turn away from funding and supporting fossil fuel energy systems at the local and national level. Invest and advocate for the implementation of cleaner, renewable energy systems.
• Develop and adhere to criteria for procuring low-carbon or zero-carbon emissions to have cascading effects on others involved in the supply chain.

Action 2

 By supporting not only at the individual level but at the societal level, healthcare industries can champion a transition to clean, renewable energy. Health sectors in every country should be advocating for the rapid phasing-out of fossil fuels. Reducing fossil fuel consumption will help propel healthcare energy consumption to net zero emissions while simultaneously protecting the public health sphere by eliminating local and global pollution.

Action 3

 Start charting the end of zero-emissions for the healthcare industry by 2050. A definitive map charting the trajectory of phasing out emissions will help the industry identify key pathways moving forward while anchoring health care providers to realistic timelines and frameworks for action. For optimal success, the map should follow the principles of global equity for health and climate. At all levels, a unified approach that others can follow will foster action — mitigation and reduction — at all levels.

Action 4

 The developmental assistance afforded to developing countries should be conscientious of climate health. Aid agencies, developmental banks, health funding agencies, and philanthropies should adhere to climate-smart practices and strategies into lending, health aid, and policy guidance. Those already funding climate mitigations should look to integrating health into their policies; which should align with the 2019 Climate Action Summit as outlined by the UN Secretary-General.

Action 5

 By establishing and implementing national and sub-national government action plans for climate-smart healthcare, healthcare systems can build upon existing initiatives for decarbonizing their practices and improving health outcomes. Countries should be held accountable for their contributions, and those perpetrating the worst impacts should lead the way in overhauling their practices.

Action 6

 Begin advancing research on both health care and climate change. Future research will allow for a better understanding of interplaying trends between healthcare and climate change. Furthermore, research can analyze the trajectories of emissions, impacts of the healthcare supply chain on the climate, and the economic and health costs and benefits of transitioning towards climate-smart healthcare.

 At BioSecure, we’re eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels by repurposing medical waste designated for landfills into sources of renewable energy. Our approach allows us to reduce the ecological impacts of medical waste filling up our landfills, and polluting the climate.