Hospital Decarbonization : International Climate Obligations and Implementation in Indonesia
Keywords:
Climate Justice, Comparative Legal Analysis, Hospital Decarbonization, Health Environmental Law, International Climate Obligations, Indonesia, MRV, Net-Zero EmissionsAbstract
Climate change is a global health threat, yet health systems also contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hospitals, as centers of energy consumption, supply chains and medical waste management, are a critical node in the decarbonization of the health sector. This article analyzes how international climate obligations and global technical standards can be translated into an effective and just national legal framework to drive the transition of hospitals toward net-zero emissions in Indonesia. The research employs a normative juridical method with a comparative approach, examining (i) international climate instruments and the evolving interpretation of state obligations, (ii) sustainability regulation and accountability practices in developed jurisdictions, and (iii) Indonesia’s sectoral regulations and guidelines on climate-resilient health facilities. The analysis identifies three major gaps: weak mandates for reporting and emission audit standards for hospitals; fragmented enforcement across health and environmental institutions; and limited capacity and access to transition financing. This article proposes an integrative governance design and a 2025-2045 roadmap that positions measurement-reporting-verification (MRV), carbon economic instruments and the principle of Just Transition as prerequisites for hospital decarbonization without compromising service access and the protection of medical and health workers.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kana Purwadi, Ade Maman Suherman, Sulistyadari Sulistyadari, Siti Kunarti, Hajar Salamah Salsabila Hariz

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