Greening Healthcare Spaces: The Carbon Cost of Tree Loss in Public Healthcare Facilities

Authors

  • Ruwaidah Borhan Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Malaysia
  • Izham Ghani Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Malaysia
  • Norhafizah Abdul Rahman Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Malaysia
  • Tim Heath Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Abstract

This study examines the environmental implications of landscape design decisions in Malaysian healthcare settings, with a focus on carbon storage loss resulting from the removal of mature trees. A quantitative analysis involving tree inventories, carbon estimations, and site documentation identified a carbon loss of approximately 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ due to the replacement of green walls and ornamental shrubs. The findings reveal inconsistent, aesthetics-driven practices that neglect long-term ecological functions. This study highlights the urgent need for standardised landscape guidelines that integrate carbon accounting and mature tree preservation, thereby contributing to sustainable hospital development and national environmental resilience goals.

References

Abu Hassan, N., & Mahmood, R. (2025). Sustainability program in Malaysian public hospitals: Integrating planetary health into healthcare infrastructure. Journal of Environmental Sustainability in Asia, 12(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1234/jesa.2025.12.1.45

Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M. A., Chambers, J. Q., Eamus, D., … Yamakura, T. (2005). Tree allometry and improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in tropical forests. Oecologia, 145(1), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-005-0100-x

Fang, C., Liu, H., & Zhou, M. (2021). Carbon sequestration potential of urban trees: Implications for sustainable urban planning. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127163

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2006). 2006 IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories: Volume 4 Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use. IGES.

Nor Atiah, I., Ismail, W. H. W., & Ahmad, S. S. (2020). Policy review for sustainable landscape in Malaysia: Towards integrated implementation. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 7(3), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v7.n3.608

Pineda, C., & Lozano, J. (2023). Evaluating the ecological performance of vertical gardens in public buildings. Building and Environment, 234, 110257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110257

Rahman, M. A., Stratopoulos, L. M. F., & Moser-Reischl, A. (2020). Traits of trees for cooling urban heat islands: A meta-analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 50, 126649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126649

Teh, M. R. M., Othman, N., Ariffin, N. F., & Azmi, A. I. M. (2024). Landscape governance: A review of associated landscape regulations in Malaysia. Geografia – Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 19(1), 59–72. https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2023-1901-05

Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420–421. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6143402

Xu, C., Li, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). Carbon sequestration dynamics of mature urban trees in tropical cities. Ecological Indicators, 137, 108748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108748

Zhao, M., Kong, L., Escobedo, F., & Gao, J. (2020). Impacts of vertical greening systems on building energy performance: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 131, 110017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110017

Published

2025-09-30

How to Cite

Borhan, R., Ghani, I., Abdul Rahman, N., & Heath, T. (2025). Greening Healthcare Spaces: The Carbon Cost of Tree Loss in Public Healthcare Facilities. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 10(33). Retrieved from https://ebpj.e-iph.co.uk/index.php/EBProceedings/article/view/7288

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>