Initiative Supports Decarbonization of Healthcare Facilities
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (BEGES) is a crucial tool for measuring carbon emissions, evaluating the effectiveness of implemented actions and guiding ongoing reduction efforts. It is mandatory every three years for public establishments employing more than 250 people and every four years for private establishments with over 500 employees. Understanding and reducing carbon footprints is increasingly important for public health, as climate change impacts environmental and human well-being.
However, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS NA) wants all healthcare facilities in the region, whether or not subject to Decree No. 2022-982 of July 1, 2022, relating to greenhouse gas emissions reports, to complete a BEGES.
To facilitate this process, ARS NA is committed to supporting establishments both technically and financially.
A partnership has been established with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Purchasing Health Cooperation Group (GCS), responsible for piloting the initiative, implemented by CV Développement.
ARS NA covers the entire cost associated with the market execution for the services related to preparing the BEGES reports for establishments, until the market deadline of December 31, 2027.
ARS NA will widely communicate the emission results of all entities involved in this collective decarbonization effort of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine healthcare system. To date, 75% of the legally obligated entities have already committed to the GCS.
Encouraging Early Results for Healthcare System Decarbonization in the Region
Of the 204 healthcare legal entities (EJS) concerned in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 79 are subject to BEGES compliance and 125 are not. Among them, 46 have participated in this initiative.
Their 2023 reports revealed carbon emissions totaling 852,109 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which corresponds to:
Examples of Eco-Friendly Practices Implemented by Regional Healthcare Professionals
Anesthetic Gas in the Operating Room
- Niort Hospital Center: Discontinuation of desflurane, an anesthetic gas with a high environmental impact (replaced with other less carbon-emitting gases or intravenous administration), and reduction of nitrous oxide: a decrease of 185 tonnes of CO2eq between 2022 and 2024.
- Limoges Polyclinic: Discontinuation of desflurane: a saving of 444 tonnes of CO2eq.
Appropriate Prescribing of Health Products
Côte Basque Hospital Center (CHCB): Replacement of intravenous administration with oral administration whenever possible, in the intensive care units.
For example, prescribing acetaminophen in tablet form rather than intravenously: intravenous administration = nearly 40 times more greenhouse gas emissions, 6 times more water consumption, 20 times more waste, and 60 times more expensive in terms of the active ingredient.
Relevance of Care: Proper Glove Use
At the University Hospital of Bordeaux: implementation of recommendations for best practices for glove use:
- In continuous care units: in 1 year = a reduction of 1.8 tonnes of CO2eq and a decrease of 66,800 gloves. The savings amount to 3,350 euros and 267 kg less waste.
- In intensive care: in 1 year = a reduction of 2.6 tonnes of CO2eq.
Comparison of the Carbon Footprint of a Reusable/Disposable Medical Device
At the University Hospital of Poitiers: an example measured in the ENT surgery department = the reusable nasofibroscope generates 14.18 kg CO2eq compared to 65.05 kg CO2eq for a disposable nasofibroscope.
