TY - CHAP
T1 - Towards zero emissions in healthcare
T2 - The Italian experience
AU - Mezzalira, Elisabetta
AU - Orsini, Luca P.
AU - Leardini, Chiara
AU - Veronesi, Gianluca
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 selection and editorial matter, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Yvonne Zurynski, and Carolynn K-lynn Smith; individual chapters, the contributors.
PY - 2024/1
Y1 - 2024/1
N2 - Following major investments mostly funded by the European Union, Italy has recently begun the transition towards the decarbonisation of its healthcare system. In this chapter, we critically investigate some of the initial efforts aiming to achieve a resilient, zero-emissions healthcare system in the Italian peninsula. To do so, we use the healthcare decarbonisation roadmap developed by Health Care Without Harm. This features three interrelated pathways guided by seven critical actions that intend to accelerate the decarbonisation process at the system and organisational levels. Regarding Actions 1 and 2, we introduce examples of maximisation of energy efficiency in existing hospitals and present case studies of state-of-the-art construction of new zero-emissions hospital infrastructure in the Tuscany region. Regarding Actions 3 and 4, we explore how the role of mobility manager has been implemented in the Emilia-Romagna region and discuss two sustainable food and travel projects developed in a hospital in Lombardy. For Actions 5, 6, and 7, we report successful examples of green management of healthcare processes and related components. In the last section, we then focus on the challenges of decarbonisation from a managerial perspective and highlight some key factors in support of the green transition in the Italian healthcare system.
AB - Following major investments mostly funded by the European Union, Italy has recently begun the transition towards the decarbonisation of its healthcare system. In this chapter, we critically investigate some of the initial efforts aiming to achieve a resilient, zero-emissions healthcare system in the Italian peninsula. To do so, we use the healthcare decarbonisation roadmap developed by Health Care Without Harm. This features three interrelated pathways guided by seven critical actions that intend to accelerate the decarbonisation process at the system and organisational levels. Regarding Actions 1 and 2, we introduce examples of maximisation of energy efficiency in existing hospitals and present case studies of state-of-the-art construction of new zero-emissions hospital infrastructure in the Tuscany region. Regarding Actions 3 and 4, we explore how the role of mobility manager has been implemented in the Emilia-Romagna region and discuss two sustainable food and travel projects developed in a hospital in Lombardy. For Actions 5, 6, and 7, we report successful examples of green management of healthcare processes and related components. In the last section, we then focus on the challenges of decarbonisation from a managerial perspective and highlight some key factors in support of the green transition in the Italian healthcare system.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192473969&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4324/9781032701196-41
DO - 10.4324/9781032701196-41
M3 - Book chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85192473969
SN - 9781032410654
SP - 357
EP - 366
BT - Routledge Handbook of Climate Change and Health System Sustainability
PB - Taylor & Francis
ER -