Healthcare: Shall we take the temperature?

Summary

As the guardian of global public health, the health sector plays an important role in climate transition. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions—approximately 5% of global emissions—mainly related to the manufacture of medicines and medical devices and globalized supply chain logistics. At the same time, the effects of climate change directly threaten people's health (respiratory diseases, spread of infectious vectors, heat waves), which reinforces the sector's responsibility to act. However, these emissions remain poorly regulated and insufficiently taken into account by healthcare stakeholders.

Faced with increasing regulatory constraints and pressure on resources, companies in the sector are increasingly exposed to transition risks: pressure on carbon-based raw materials (particularly those derived from petrochemicals), regulations on gases with high global warming potential (such as HFCs), and the gradual relocation of production. However, the adoption of climate strategies remains very uneven: while a few large companies stand out with relatively robust strategies, the majority of the sample shows a lack of maturity, particularly on Scope 3 issues.

Analysis of the CIA results also reveals a wide dispersion of scores, reflecting the heterogeneity of practices within the sector. The three sub-sectors studied—pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics (we will return later to the presence of the latter within the healthcare sector in the CIA)—are represented at all levels of the ranking, although the highest scores are held by pharmaceutical companies. Conversely, the lowest-rated companies often combine a lack of transparency, an absence of reduction targets, and a dependence on highly emissive processes.

The sector's decarbonization efforts are still limited, but there are levers that can be used. Low-carbon technological alternatives are being developed (dry inhalers, intravenous anesthesia, lower-emission logistics), and some companies are gradually integrating environmental criteria into their purchasing and industrial processes. However, these dynamics must be amplified if the sector wishes to reduce its impact while ensuring the accessibility and resilience of care.

In addition, many companies in the sector outsource a significant portion of their production, which can lead to a transfer of emissions outside the direct operational scope (Scope 1 and 2), making climate performance appear artificially favorable. A credible climate strategy must therefore include a rigorous assessment of emissions linked to the value chain (Scope 3).

Finally, the transition to sustainable healthcare requires a more comprehensive change in approach. It involves reviewing healthcare practices, strengthening prevention, rationalizing the use of medicines, and rethinking economic models. Au- beyond corporate action, it also calls for a transformation of public policies and financing mechanisms.

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