Humana to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than half
Humana says its environmental and sustainability efforts are rooted in science and designed to make a positive impact on climate change.
Photo: Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images
Humana has signaled its intent to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 54.6% by 2023, using 2019 as a base year. In line with a 1.5°C temperature trajectory, Humana's near-term science-based emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
President and CEO Bruce Broussard said there is an "undeniable link" between physical and emotional wellbeing and the health of the environment, and said the move aligns with the company's philosophy of putting health first.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Among other strategies, Humana's science-based target to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions includes continued investment and improvements to achieve energy-efficient buildings, transitioning its fleet and procurement of renewable energy.
Humana will also address the approved Scope 3 target by engaging, educating and partnering with suppliers to set their own science-based targets.
According to National Grid, the three scopes are a way of categorizing the different kinds of emissions a company creates in its own operations and in its wider "value chain" – its suppliers and customers.
Scope 1 covers emissions from sources that an organization owns or controls directly – for example, from burning fuel in a fleet of vehicles. Scope 2 are emissions that a company causes indirectly, and come from where the energy it purchases and uses is produced. An example is the emissions caused when generating the electricity used in buildings.
Scope 3 encompasses emissions that are not produced by the company itself. These are not the result of activities from assets owned or controlled by them, but by those that it's indirectly responsible for, up and down its value chain – such as when a company buys, uses and disposes of products from suppliers.
Humana said its environmental and sustainability efforts are rooted in science and designed to make a positive impact on climate change, pollution and other environmental factors that impact health.
The latest climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows it's still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, but that threshold is dangerously close to being exceeded, Humana said. Its target is designed to align with national benchmarking and spur innovation and efficiency.
THE LARGER TREND
Findings last year from the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee showed that the U.S. healthcare system is responsible for an estimated 10% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and they account for roughly 98,000 deaths annually.
Since the healthcare sector is responsible for so much of these GHG emissions, the House committee made the case that the industry has a role to play in curbing emissions and ensuring it is appropriately prepared for increasing climate-related events that will inevitably disrupt operations.
The committee said that such steps can improve health and add cost-saving opportunities. For instance, air pollution and the larger climate crisis costs the healthcare system roughly $820 billion each year. The industry's emissions have resulted in the loss of about 388,000 disability-adjusted life-years, and there were 114 hospital evacuations linked to climate catastrophes, the data showed.
Also last year, more than 60 health leaders joined a Biden Administration initiative pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. This represents over 650 hospitals, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Organizations making this pledge include two of the five largest private health systems, Ascension and CommonSpirit Health.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: Jeff.Lagasse@himssmedia.com
