“Green, healthy, and fair”: Exploring possibilities for socially responsible green transition in Latvia's public hospitals

Description

Climate change puts a twofold burden on the healthcare practitioners and management. On the one hand, climate change-induced diseases and disorders are on the rise and the healthcare system is expected to adapt to that. On the other hand, the European Green Deal (EGD) policies require that, along with other sectors, also the healthcare sector contributed to decarbonizing the EU economies by 2050. However, the green transition is likely to expose various vulnerabilities of healthcare provision. The proposed paper focusses on some of those drawing on the data obtained in Latvia, within a study that explores possibilities for implementing the green transition in the healthcare sector in socially responsible ways. Several previously unexamined questions are being addressed: How will the costs of transition to clean energy and climate-friendly supplies be met in the healthcare sector? In what ways will these costs impact accessibility and affordability of healthcare? Will telemedicine and preventive care be accessible to the population on equal terms? To pinpoint potential solutions, a sociological inquiry is being conducted: (1) a survey on Latvians’ perceptions of climate change and the extent of its impact on the respondents’ lifestyle, consumption and health behaviour; (2) interviews with representatives of four hospitals about their organisations’ steps towards sustainability and climate neutrality; (3) case studies on the social repercussions of each hospital’s green transition. The paper will discuss a set of preliminary data. The research results not only promise novel insights within an interdisciplinary field comprising sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies as applied to public health; by showcasing practical solutions, they are also geared towards improvement of healthcare provision.

Period	24 Apr 2025
Event title	The 16th Conference on Baltic Studies in Europe (CBSE): “Converging Paths: The Baltic Between East and West“
Event type	Conference
Location	Cambridge, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International