Emissions related to pharmaceuticals increased by 77% between 1995 and 2019. They’re still substantially more carbon intensive than health-care services. Between three and 50% of medicines go to waste, due to expired stockpiles, unnecessary prescriptions, and large package sizes. Addressing these sources of waste, such as with programs to return or redistribute unused medications, could help reduce pharmaceutical emissions without compromising people’s access to needed drugs.
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2025/04/increased-access-to-medications-may-be-a-public-health-good-but-its-a-big-climate-challenge/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=increased-access-to-medications-is-a-public-health-good-and-a-climate-challenge