A front runner in sustainability

The Sustainability Taskforce, under the leadership of Professor Alex Burdorf (Head of the Public Health department), collaborated with the company Metabolic to create “the Carbon Footprint” of Erasmus MC.

The healthcare sector contributes about 7 percent to total greenhouse gas emissions by the Netherlands. This includes emissions in the Netherlands and abroad. Erasmus MC is one of the largest university medical centers in Europe. Erasmus MC is aware of its contribution to climate change and signed the Green Deal 3.0 in November 2022, together with many healthcare representatives. By signing the green Deal 3.0, Erasmus MC committed to the objectives of a 55% reduction in CO₂, emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. As an important step in reducing emissions, Erasmus MC has estimated its carbon footprint by mapping CO₂ emissions throughout the organization.

This high-level overview allows Erasmus MC to focus on specific organizational entities and develop tailor-made emission reduction strategies. Erasmus MC has the ambition to take the lead in sustainable healthcare and establish wider collaborations. Some of Erasmus MC’s aspirations to take forward the sustainability transition include, but are not limited to: A) The publication of its carbon footprint; B) Linking environmental sustainability to value-based healthcare. C) Working towards the establishment of a database for sustainable solutions in healthcare. If you are interested to read more about sustainable activities, please check: Duurzaamheid – Erasmus MC.