Contribution of individual greenhouse gases to healthcare's global climate impact

Figure note: data based on 2015 and sourced from Lenzen et al., 2020. Percentages represent each gas's contribution to healthcare's total global warming potential. Nitrous oxide emissions arise mainly from agricultural and industrial processes. Methane emissions arise from food production, livestock by-product use in the pharmaceutical industry, and energy production (e.g. seam gas from coal mines). Fluorinated gases arise from refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosol propellants, anesthetic agents and solvents.

Suggested citation: HealthcareLCA (2023). Contribution of individual greenhouse gases to healthcare's global climate impact [Figure] Published online at HealthcareLCA.com. Retrieved from: 'www.healthcarelca.com/contribution-of-individual-greenhouse-gases-to-healthcares-global-climate-impact'

References:  

Lenzen M, Malik A, Li M, Fry J, Weisz H, Pichler PP, Chaves LS, Capon A, Pencheon D. The environmental footprint of health care: a global assessment. The Lancet Planetary Health. 2020 Jul 1;4(7):e271-9.

First published: January 5, 2021

Last updated: March 23, 2023

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