Australia's healthcare system contributing to 7% of nation's carbon footprint

Study prompts calls for more energy-efficient hospitals and for doctors to use general anaesthetic alternatives to gases

Australia's healthcare system is contributing more than 7% of the nation's carbon footprint, with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies forming the bulk of health-related emissions, an analysis led by the University of Sydney has found.

The findings, published in the international medical journal the Lancet on Tuesday, have prompted the climate lobby group Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) to urge the federal government to fund states and territories to make hospitals more energy-efficient.