The health care industry is among the most carbon-intensive service sectors in the industrialized world. It is responsible for 4.4–4.6 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and similar fractions of toxic air pollutants, largely stemming from fossil fuel combustion.

In the second episode of The Earth Disease, journalist Jared Downing explores ways that the health care industry is working to curb its carbon footprint.

Jared produced this series in 2021 as part of the Health Affairs Podcast Fellowship Program.

Guests on this episode include Dr. Ashish Jha, Bob Biggio from Boston Medical Center, Jeff Thompson formerly from the Gundersen Health System.

At the time of this recording, Dr. Jha was the Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health. He is currently the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Counselor to the President. The views represented in this podcast are his own.

Works Cited:

• National Health Care Spending In 2020: Growth Driven By Federal Spending In Response To The COVID-19 Pandemic (Health Affairs)
• Health Care Pollution and Public Health Damage In The United States: An Update (Health Affairs)
• Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Environmental Protection Agency)
• Budget of the United States Government

Music produced by Seth Kennedy.