In health care, we are trained to protect life. Every decision we make, every treatment we offer, is anchored in the most fundamental principle—primum non nocere or ‘first, do no harm’. But as the climate crisis deepens, it is time we ask whether this guiding ethic can extend beyond the patient, to the planet itself!

The truth is difficult to ignore. The health care sector, globally seen as a force for healing, is also contributing to the problem. If it were a country, it would be among the top five carbon emitters in the world. Hospitals consume enormous amounts of energy and water, rely on single-use materials, and generate vast quantities of waste. Every medical breakthrough and life saved has an environmental footprint. A single bypass surgery is estimated to generate emissions equivalent to those produced by a small petrol car travelling for 250 kilometres. Now, extrapolate that number for every procedure, every hospital, every day, and the reality of our impact really comes home.

At the same time, climate change is already making people sicker. Rising temperatures are worsening respiratory conditions. Heatwaves are affecting maternal and neonatal health. Water scarcity and extreme weather events are disrupting care, especially in vulnerable communities. We are not only treating the victims of climate change, but also contributing to the conditions that create them.

This is the paradox we must confront. The relationship between climate and health is no longer one-way. It is circular, and we need to break the cycle. At Apollo Hospitals, we recognised this early. In 2021, we launched the Apollo Sustainability Action Plan—a group-wide effort to integrate climate responsibility into every part of our work.

The first step was to understand our impact. We undertook one of the world’s largest health care emissions footprint assessments, which gave us clear insights into our energy use, waste patterns, and hotspots. It allowed us to act with intent. Today, 28 per cent of the energy we use comes from renewable sources. Through a series of targeted measures, we have reduced our scope one and two emissions, cut diesel use, and implemented over 200 energy-saving projects. Nearly 5,000 metric tonnes of waste have been recycled. We are replacing plastic with compostable alternatives, reducing water consumption even as patient volumes rise, and ensuring that all our major suppliers comply with our green procurement policies.

These changes are not cosmetic. They are fundamental to how we think about health care in the future. A hospital cannot be considered world-class if it is not environmentally responsible. And no health system can claim to serve people if it contributes to the conditions that harm them.

The good news is that change is possible. When sustainability is treated as a core value rather than a side initiative, progress follows. And when health systems lead by example, others take notice. We are privileged to be part of the United Nations’ ‘Race to Zero’ campaign and remain fully committed to supporting India’s net zero targets.

There is still much to do. Climate action in health care must go beyond energy and waste. It must influence how we design hospital buildings, how we train medical professionals, how we procure equipment, and how we plan for emergencies. Every choice we make matters.

The climate crisis is not just an environmental challenge. It is a health emergency and the solutions must begin within our own walls and from our own will. The work ahead is complex, but the intention is simple. To care deeply, and to do no harm—not only to those we treat, but also to the world they live in.

Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.