On Thursday, the White House announced that “61 of the largest U.S. hospital and health sector companies have responded to the administration’s Health Sector Climate Pledge. The companies pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030.
Pfizer and Chiesi Group, both members of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), are among the companies that have joined the pledge.
Pfizer issued a statement saying it aims to achieve net zero by 2040, which is 10 years earlier than the proposed timeline of the standards.
Additionally, as part of the pledge, Pfizer seeks to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and engage suppliers to catalyze equal action, with the goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 95% as well as its value chain emissions by 90% from 2019 levels, by 2040.
The health sector needs to take climate action
“The health care sector accounts for 8.5% of U.S. emissions, so these bold commitments advance President Biden’s goal to reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% in 2030 and reach net-zero emissions in 2050,” the White House said.
The health sector is accountable for 4.4-4.6% of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to a study from 2020.
Furthermore, greenhouse emissions of the US health sector increased by 6 percent from 2010 to 2018, reaching a number of 1692 kg per capita in 2018, said the same study. This is the highest rate among all of the industrialized regions.
Furthermore, the WHO (World Health Organization) has said the climate crisis is the single biggest health threat to humanity, estimated to account for 13 million deaths every year.
