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Demonstrates the health care sector's contribution to environmental damage, emphasizing the need for leadership for sustainable practices.
Health care’s mission is to heal, yet its delivery systems significantly contribute to environmental degradation that threatens human health. This paradox requires urgent attention from leaders at all levels. Current evidence shows health care generates about 5.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change and its health impacts.1 The principle of “first, do no harm” now extends beyond individual care to include the planetary systems that support population health.
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Ramos et al. (2026) studied this question.
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