Greater energy efficiency and transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, can both significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health from the myriad impacts of climate change, including increased heat-related illnesses, the expansion of vector borne diseases, increased droughts and water scarcity in some regions and storms and flooding in others.
Moving away from fossil fuels also brings with it the health and economic co-benefit of reductions in hospital admissions and treatments for chronic illnesses such as asthma, lung and heart disease caused by the pollution created from the extraction, refining and combustion of coal, oil and gas.
The health sector consumes significant amounts of fossil fuel energy, although there are no adequate figures for most countries. Health-care facilities can also significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs over time by using alternative forms of clean and renewable energy – such as solar and wind energy, and biofuels that do not undermine public health.
