Abstract
This study uses the “Complete Decomposition” technique to examine the intensity of CO2 emissions in the health sector in Portugal over the period 1997–2014. Our results suggest that improvements in emission intensity in the health sector depend on the design of incentives of replacing fossil fuels with fuels from renewable energy sources and adopting measures to save energy. In addition, capital investment may also contribute to the reduction of the emission intensity in the sector, if the investment is applied to the acquisition of more efficient equipment. We identify areas for action and recommend that public and private sector health professionals should elevate energy efficiency to a top priority. Our results also highlight the importance of the Kyoto protocol.
Article Highlights
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Emissions of health sector (Portugal, 1997–2014) using complete decomposition.
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Consumption of fossil fuels reveals the strongest effect upon CO2 intensity.
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Renewables and efficient use of electricity reveal critical to reduce emissions.
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Capital investment may contribute to the reduction of the emission intensity.
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Results also highlight the importance of the Kyoto protocol.
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Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015). Values in constant prices of 1996
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015). Values in constant prices of 1996
Source: Own elaboration based on data from INE (2015). Values in CO2 tons by euros
Source: Own elaboration
Source: Own elaboration
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Notes
In Portugal, according to INE (2015), the sectors that most contribute to CO2 emissions are: electricity and gas sectors, manufacture of coke and petroleum products, land transport, agriculture, manufacture of pulp and manufacture of chemicals.
About 7% of the total electricity consumption in the commercial sector corresponds to the share of the consumption of health care buildings (EIA 2012).
Please see Table 1 for definition of each variable.
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Acknowledgements
This work has been in part financially supported by the Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policy—GOVCOPP (project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-008540), funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI)—and by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Any persistent error or missing facts are the authors’ entire responsibility.
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Robaina, M., Varum, C. & Francisco, A. Complete Decomposition Analysis of CO2 Emissions in the Health Sector in Portugal. Int J Environ Res 13, 977–990 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00230-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00230-8