Healthcare leaders’ handbook for setting decarbonisation targets
Categories: Net zero health systems, GHG emissions assessments, Action plans for sustainable low carbon health systems, Guidance document, Global, Europe, Low carbon sustainable health systems, Supply chains
Publisher: Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)
The Healthcare Leaders’ Handbook for Setting Decarbonisation Targets is a practical, healthcare-specific guidance resource developed by HCWH Europe to support healthcare organisations in translating climate ambition into credible, measurable decarbonisation targets. This handbook addresses a key gap in existing climate guidance by providing sector-tailored approaches to target-setting, from initial mitigation targets through to advanced science-based targets. It draws on leading frameworks including the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Greenhouse Gas Protocol, WHO guidance, and HCWH’s Global Road Map for Health Care Decarbonization, while adapting them to the operational realities of healthcare systems.
The resource includes step-by-step guidance on defining target boundaries, timelines, and ambition levels; recommended science-based benchmarks; sector-specific examples (including buildings, transport, food, anaesthetic gases, and supply chains); and real-world case studies. It also outlines approaches for monitoring progress and strengthening accountability.
By equipping healthcare leaders with a structured and evidence-based framework, the handbook supports the development of credible decarbonisation targets that accelerate emissions reductions and deliver co-benefits for health and climate resilience.