A hospital’s work to limit its environmental impact is creating better treatments for patients while lessening harm to the planet
Perched on a dramatic riverbank and filled with towering tropical plants, the Champalimaud Clinical Centre in Lisbon is not what comes to mind with the words “cancer treatment” – but the work it is doing could be a template for the future of healthcare.
New cancer cases across the world are predicted to increase by more than 50% by 2040, according to the Global Cancer Observatory. And with increased demand for treatment will come a cost that is only now being addressed – its impact on the environment. Given that the world’s healthcare sector is already responsible for 4.4% of the planet’s carbon emissions – surprisingly more than aviation or shipping – the implications for the climate crisis are significant.
