This report provides baseline estimates of Australia’s health system greenhouse gas emissions in 2021-22. These estimates are a foundational component of the work to achieve a sustainable, high-quality, net zero health system outlined in Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy. This report delivers Action 4.1 of the Strategy, which outlines a commitment to publish a baseline estimate of health system emissions in 2024, and regular emissions estimates thereafter, to track progress in mitigation efforts.

The report estimates the greenhouse gas emissions by the Australian health system were 5.44% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the three broad areas included in the health system, these emissions are divided between:

• health care services: 59% of the total
• residential care and social assistance services: 33%
• human pharmaceutical and medicinal product manufacturing: 8%.

Future work towards a net zero health system will focus on:

• addressing identified limitations to refine emissions estimation methods
• working with state and territory governments, and with private providers, to align approaches to health system greenhouse gas emissions estimation, and to make use of these estimates in national reporting.