Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change in Healthcare: A Global Scoping Review of Infrastructure, Financial Burdens, and Policy

Climate change, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions, is increasingly recognized as a global crisis affecting both ecological stability and human well-being.Although healthcare systems strive to mitigate climate-related health burdens, such as expanding infectious diseases, intensifying heat-related illnesses, and disruptions to food and water supplies, these medical infrastructures also contribute significantly to carbon emissions.The healthcare sector generates a substantial environmental footprint through hospital operations, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and reliance on single-use materials, which can exacerbate climate change.We conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus between January 2025 and February 2025, ultimately including 34 studies that met our predefined criteria.Specifically, it maps the literature on the bidirectional relationship between climate change and healthcare, focusing on how amplified disease burdens elevate resource consumption and costs and how medical services heighten greenhouse gas outputs.The findings highlight a cyclical feedback loop; as climate change worsens disease risks, healthcare systems expand their capacity in ways that can intensify emissions and create a selfreinforcing cycle.Growing evidence indicates that integrating renewable energy, expanding telemedicine, and adopting sustainable procurement practices can mitigate these challenges.This review underscores the importance of coordinating efforts among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and researchers to pursue sustainable solutions that protect human health while reducing the healthcare sector's role in driving climate change.