SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN HEALTHCARE PRACTICES: PATHWAYS TOWARD AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE HEALTH SYSTEM

Abstract

Healthcare systems rank among the most resource-intensive industries worldwide, producing substantial volumes of carbon emissions, hazardous waste, and energy demand. With the increasing clarity of the effects of climate change on population health outcomes, it has become impossible to ignore the urgent necessity of transforming healthcare into an environmentally responsible sector. This chapter examines the concept of green healthcare across five operational dimensions: energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable procurement, digital health, and workforce culture. It is based on current empirical evidence, policy frameworks, and international institutional examples to show that environmental responsibility and high-quality patient care are not conflicting forces but deeply interconnected goals. The chapter concludes by addressing the ongoing barriers to change and proposing a multi-level roadmap for health systems committed to sustainable transformation.