Susana Viegas, a professor at the NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH), took part in the ‘European Climate Resilient Health Systems Course’, organised by Columbia University and ASPHER, where she presented a case study on the impacts of emissions from the health sector on human health. The session, part of the ‘Health and Economic Benefits of Sustainable Health Systems’ panel, was attended by more than 1600 online participants.
This 10-week course, which is aimed at health professionals, hospital managers and public health authorities, among others, aims to provide knowledge and tools to prepare health systems for climate challenges, by identifying and assessing vulnerabilities, promoting adaptation and health system greening initiatives.
The NOVA NSPH professor’s speech, which took place on 18 February, was based on the scientific article of which she is also the author, entitled The impact of the health sector’s emissions on human health and published in Environmental International. The study had the collaboration of doctoral students from NOVA NSPH and addresses a topic of growing relevance: the impact of the health sector’s emissions on human health and the associated economic costs.
The study estimated the burden of disease (measured in disability-adjusted life years – DALYs) and the costs associated with the carbon footprint of the health sector in the European Union. Four different scenarios were analysed, one of which was a 55% reduction in emissions from the health sector, in line with the European Union’s targets for reducing emissions. This was the scenario that implied the most significant reduction in the burden of disease and its costs. According to the study, the costs associated with emissions in the health sector could amount to 25.6 billion euros, which highlights the need for mitigation policies aimed at reducing emissions and more sustainable clinical practice.
Participation in this course consolidates NOVA NSPH ‘s role in research in the areas of environmental health and public health, contributing to the international debate on innovative solutions for more resilient and sustainable health systems.
