Estimating the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Australian ambulance services

Brown, Lawrence H., Buttner, Petra G., Canyon, Deon V., Crawford, J. Mac, and Judd, Jenni (2012) Estimating the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Australian ambulance services. Journal of Cleaner Production, 37. pp. 135-141.

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Abstract

Emergency medical services, or 'ambulance services', are a vehicle-intense component of the health sector that could contribute to that sector's emissions reduction efforts. This analysis uses data from an inventory of ambulance service Scope 1 (arising from direct energy consumption) and Scope 2 (arising from purchased energy consumption) emissions, along with publicly available expenditure data and emissions multipliers derived from economy-wide input–output tables, to estimate the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Australian ambulance services. Total emissions are estimated at between 216,369 and 546,688 t CO2e annually, and represent between 1.8% and 4.4% of total Australian health sector emissions. Approximately 20% of ambulance service emissions arise from direct consumption of vehicle fuels (diesel and petrol) and aircraft fuels, with 22% arising from electricity consumption, and 58% arising from Scope 3 (e.g., supply chain; waste disposal) processes. Incorporating alternative fuels and higher efficiency vehicles into Australian ambulance services' vehicle fleets could reduce their direct greenhouse emissions, but broader efforts targeting reduced electricity consumption, greener electricity generation, and environmentally friendly purchasing practices will be required to substantially reduce their total carbon footprint.

Item ID: 23236
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0959-6526
Keywords: emergency medical services; lifecycle analysis; input–output; Greenhouse gas emissions
Date Deposited: 05 Sep 2012 23:07
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 50%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050203 Environmental Education and Extension @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified @ 50%
85 ENERGY > 8507 Energy Conservation and Efficiency > 850799 Energy Conservation and Efficiency not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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