A world with fewer carbon emissions but less healthcare innovation would not be a better place. That was the message from Bill Gates as he gave the opening address at the COP28 Health Day in November 2023, the first of its kind. But if advances in technology and digital solutions are essential to easing suffering and preventing illness, how can we ensure they continue apace – without doing more harm than good?
Globally, the healthcare industry accounts for 4.4% of the world’s CO2 emissions, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. It’s also a wasteful industry and heavy consumer of natural resources – 10% of raw materials are extracted every year to serve it, while up to 13kg of waste per hospital bed are generated each day.
