EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Research Article
Jan 04, 2021 2479 1336

A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report

Aoife Kirk 1 2 * ,
Pippa Grenfell 1,
Peninah Murage 1
1 London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine, UNITED KINGDOM2 Royal College of Surgeons REPUBLIC OF IRELAND* Corresponding Author
European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 2021, 5(2), em0067, https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Background: Decarbonisation refers to the process by which countries, individuals or other entities aim to achieve zero fossil carbon emissions through reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including procurement, energy and buildings, pharmaceuticals, transport, and waste which impacts public health. Preliminary findings on decarbonisation in healthcare systems suggest that further research is required.
Aims: This research was undertaken to explore the opportunities and barriers of decarbonisation of public hospitals within the ‘climate health’ planetary health boundary in the Republic of Ireland.
Methodology: A literature review was used in conjunction with semi-structured qualitative interviews to explore barriers and opportunities of decarbonisation of Irish healthcare sector. The purposive sampling for the qualitative interviews resulted in the selection of five key decision-makers within cross-sector fields including environmental, public health, management and transport.
Results: Themes emerged which reflected the cross-cutting planetary health principle. Barriers such as financial incentives and the requirement for a transdisciplinary approach were raised. The need for preparing the healthcare sector through adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change was also highlighted, as was the importance of leadership within the hospital from all sectors.
Recommendations: The findings emerging from this novel research through a planetary health lens can be used to further inform the ‘Climate Action Plan’ in the Republic of Ireland, with adaption to other healthcare sectors internationally, in order to ensure investment within the health sector in preparation for climate change.

KEYWORDS

planetary health public health decarbonisation hospitals climate change health policy Ireland

CITATION (Harvard)

Kirk, A., Grenfell, P., and Murage, P. (2021). A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 5(2), em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
APA
Kirk, A., Grenfell, P., & Murage, P. (2021). A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 5(2), em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
Vancouver
Kirk A, Grenfell P, Murage P. A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report. EUROPEAN J ENV PUBLI. 2021;5(2):em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
AMA
Kirk A, Grenfell P, Murage P. A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report. EUROPEAN J ENV PUBLI. 2021;5(2), em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
Chicago
Kirk, Aoife, Pippa Grenfell, and Peninah Murage. "A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report". European Journal of Environment and Public Health 2021 5 no. 2 (2021): em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368
MLA
Kirk, Aoife et al. "A Planetary Health Perspective to Decarbonising Public Hospitals in Ireland: A Health Policy Report". European Journal of Environment and Public Health, vol. 5, no. 2, 2021, em0067. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/9368

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