practicaldermatology.com
A new study has identified scope 3 emissions, particularly purchased goods and services, as the largest contributor to the carbon footprint of an outpatient dermatology clinic, accounting for 51.1% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The research, conducted at a University of Pennsylvania medical dermatology clinic handling nearly 30,000 visits annually, provides one of the first comprehensive emissions analyses at the clinic level. Researchers followed GHG Protocol Corporate and Corporate Value Chain standards, quantified the clinic’s emissions for fiscal year 2022. Total emissions were measured at 323.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), with 165.5 tCO2e (51.1%) attributed to scope 3 (indirect, upstream/downstream sources), 149.9 tCO2e (46.3%) to scope 2 (purchased energy), and 8.2 tCO2e (2.5%) to scope 1 (direct emissions). Within scope 3, purchased goods and services (72.7%), patient travel (8.6%), and waste (7.9%) emerged as dominant sources.
Energy use intensity at the clinic was 185.4 kBtu/sqft. Steam and chilled water were significant contributors to scope 2 emissions. Compared to the broader clinical complex, the clinic had relatively lower resource intensity, shifting the focus to scope 2 contributions.
"In this quality improvement study, the composition of emissions at the clinic level reflects the importance of scope 3, paralleling the health sector overall," the authors wrote." The lower-resource intensity of the clinic compared to the average energy requirements of the total clinical complex led to a relatively large contribution from scope 2. These findings support efforts to characterize high-yield emissions-reduction targets and allow for identification of actionable, clinic-level steps that may inform broader health system efforts."
Silva G, et al. Source: JAMA Dermatology. 2025. Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.5669