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A new collaborative study between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) reveals that Singapore’s healthcare system has a carbon footprint 18 percent lower than previous estimates, marking a key milestone in pushing sustainable medicine forward in Southeast Asia.
🔍 What the study uncovered
- The report quantified carbon emissions from the entire healthcare ecosystem—hospitals, logistics, procurement, outpatient care—and found them to be about 4.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. This is lower than anticipated across multiple metrics.
- Singapore’s system is now estimated to operate at a 20 percent lower carbon intensity compared to other advanced health systems, underscoring how environmental responsibility and high care standards can co-exist.
- Key reductions came from sectors such as anaesthesia gas use (where greener alternatives were more broadly adopted) and tighter control over refrigerant emissions—two areas that often drive healthcare carbon output.
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Why it matters
- Climate & health linkage: Hospitals and clinics are energy-intensive. Reducing emissions in healthcare is part of broader national goals to hit net zero by 2050 under Singapore’s Green Plan.
- Benchmark for Asia: This is among the first comprehensive national assessments in the region. It positions Singapore as a thought leader in sustainable health, giving other countries a model to follow.
- Targeted interventions: By mapping emissions “hotspots” across the healthcare value chain, policymakers can direct decarbonisation efforts where they yield the most benefit—whether in supply chains, building efficiency, or clinical practices.
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