BCEPS Co-hosts the Alrek Bærekraftseminar (Alrek Sustainability Seminar)
The topic of the day-long seminar was "How can we reduce the climate footprint of healthcare?" Several BCEPS researchers contributed with presentations and panel discussions.
By: Jana Wilbricht
Published:
Visit the event web page here:
https://alrekhelseklynge.no/arrangementer/baerekraftseminar-klimaavtrykk/ (external link)
After a successful first Sustainability Seminar in fall 2024, Alrek Health Cluster at the University of Bergen hosted a new seminar focusing on the healthcare sector's climate footprint on 13 May 2025.
The focus was on how we can work systematically and concretely to reduce the healthcare sector's climate footprint. How should we calculate emissions? How can we make climate and the environment part of our priorities in healthcare? How do we implement this in procurement processes, and is sustainability something that should be included in healthcare education?
Through the Sustainability Seminar series, we want to motivate an evidence-based and sustainable development of the healthcare sector, and create an interdisciplinary arena for discussions on sustainability, resource use, climate and priority setting.
The commentator for this seminar was Stina Ellevseth Oseland, Director of the Urban Environment Agency (Bymiljøetaten) of the Bergen Municipality (Bergen Kommune). Oseland holds a PhD and has research experience from the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET) at the University of Bergen.
The first session was held in English and featured two BCEPS researchers: Professor Oddvar Kaarbøe and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Anand Bhopal. The session was very well attended.
Topic: Prioritising lower emissions: How can we quantify decisions?
The healthcare sector is not only exposed to the consequences of climate change but is also a major polluter itself. The sector is responsible for 5.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In order to make smart decisions, we need a good overview and knowledge. Can carbon accounting be a good tool for reducing emissions from the healthcare sector?
Alrek invited Associate Professor Stefan Hjørleifsson, Professor Oddvar Kaarbøe and Postdoctoral Researcher Anand Bhopal for presentations and a discussion on the topic.
Hjørleifsson leads the Steering Group for the Norwegian Medical Association's (Legeforening) Make Wise Choices (Gjør Kloke Valg) initiative, a campaign aimed at reducing the number of unnecessary examinations and treatments.
Oddvar Kaarbøe is a BCEPS professor of health economics and deputy director of Helse Vest's board.
Anand Bhopal is a physician and BCEPS postdoctoral research fellow and investigated how carbon emissions affect fair and efficient priority setting in healthcare in his PhD thesis.