Quantification of the environmental footprint in the Military Hospital of Nicaragua, in accordance with the actions of Green and Healthy Hospitals and the guidelines of Health Without Harm

Abstract

Estimating the environmental footprint of healthcare institutions presents a significant challenge due to the complexity of collecting data from both mobile and fixed sources. The main purpose of this study was to quantify the carbon footprint of the Nicaraguan Military Hospital, based on estimates of emissions by scope, as a basis for decision-making on environmental mitigation and resilience. These actions are coordinated by the environmental committee in collaboration with healthcare and administrative services. This applied, observational, cross-sectional study involved a comprehensive data collection process through critical systems, the vehicle fleet, and waste management areas. The climate impact monitoring tool developed by Health Care Without Harm was used to process the data and estimate emissions. Key variables include waste volume, energy consumption, and fuel consumption. The results indicate that 9% of total emissions correspond to Scope 1 (direct emissions within the institution), 75.1% to Scope 2 (purchased electricity), and 15.8% to Scope 3 (indirect emissions generated outside the institution but resulting from its activities). In conclusion, quantitative values for GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions were obtained that allow for the assessment of the environmental impact of the production processes of the Military Hospital of Nicaragua, considering the context of climate change and available natural resources.