INFOGRAPHIC in health care are often aligned with improving operating efficiency . Across OECD members , average health spending increased to 9.7 % of GDP in 2020 from about 8.7 % in 2015 ( see chart 1 ). The U . S . spends more on health care as a share of the economy than any other country . In 2020 , health spending accounted for about 19 % of U . S . GDP , nearly twice as much as the average OECD country , despite mixed evidence of better outcomes . By contrast , health expenditure in Germany amounted to 12.8 % of GDP , the highest share of all 27 EU member states . The EU average for health expenditure was 9.9 % of GDP and OECD estimates point to average health expenditure growth of 5 % in 2020 .
With such sector growth prospects , under a business-as-usual scenario , greenhouse gas emissions related to sector activity would likely continue to increase . We therefore believe finding solutions to decrease emissions in absolute terms , while responding to increasing demand for health care services , is becoming more essential for players in the sector , in particular if governments aim to reach a path to a low-carbon economy .
On average , health care accounts for about 4 % of global greenhouse gas emissions . This is according to a 2019 study ( Pichler et al ); emissions include carbon dioxide , methane , and ozone .
Together , the U . S ., EU , and China contribute more than 50 % of the health care industry ' s global greenhouse gas emissions ( source : ARUP , 2019 ). The observed , widespread , and substantial damage attributed to climate change include to human health , such as infectious diseases , malnutrition , or mental
health . Effective adaptation options exist to help protect human health , including strengthening public health programs related to climate-sensitive diseases , or increasing health systems resilience ( International Panel for Climate Change [ IPCC ], Summary for Policymakers , 2023 ). We believe the health care industry will be required to strengthen its ability to cut its share of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change . �
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