An urgent need for societal transformation exists to reduce the environmental impact of humanity, because environmental health affects human health. Health care causes ~5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and other substantial and ongoing environmental harms. Thus, health-care professionals and managers must lead ongoing efforts to improve the environmental performance of health systems. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a methodology that enables estimation of environmental impacts of products and processes. It models environmental effects from ‘cradle’ (raw material extraction) to ‘grave’ (end of useful life) and conventionally reports a range of different impact categories. LCA is a valuable tool when used appropriately. Maximizing its utility requires rational assumptions alongside careful consideration of system boundaries and data sources. Well-executed LCAs are detailed and transparently reported, enabling findings to be adapted or generalized to different settings. Attention should be given to modelling mitigation solutions in LCAs. This important step can guide health-care systems towards new and innovative solutions that embed progress towards international climate agreements. Many urological conditions are common, recurrent or chronic, requiring resource-intensive management with large associated environmental impacts. LCAs in urology have predominantly focussed on greenhouse gas emissions and have enabled identification of modifiable ‘hotspots’ including electricity use, travel, single-use items, irrigation, reprocessing and waste incineration. However, the methodological and reporting quality of published urology LCAs generally requires improvement and standardization. Health-care evaluation and commissioning frameworks that value LCA findings alongside clinical outcomes and cost could accelerate sustainable innovations. Rapid implementation strategies for known environmentally sustainable solutions are also needed.

迫切需要进行社会转型，以减少人类对环境的影响，因为环境健康影响人类健康。医疗保健造成全球温室气体排放量约 5% 以及其他重大且持续的环境危害。因此，卫生保健专业人员和管理人员必须带头不断努力改善卫生系统的环境绩效。生命周期评估 (LCA) 是一种能够评估产品和流程的环境影响的方法。它对从“摇篮”（原材料开采）到“坟墓”（使用寿命结束）的环境影响进行建模，并按惯例报告一系列不同的影响类别。如果使用得当，LCA 是一个很有价值的工具。最大化其效用需要合理的假设，同时仔细考虑系统边界和数据源。执行良好的生命周期评估是详细且透明的报告，使研究结果能够适应或推广到不同的环境。应注意 LCA 中缓解解决方案的建模。这一重要步骤可以引导医疗保健系统寻求新的创新解决方案，从而推动国际气候协议的进展。许多泌尿系统疾病是常见的、复发性的或慢性的，需要资源密集型的管理，并对环境产生巨大的影响。泌尿外科的生命周期评价主要关注温室气体排放，并能够识别可修改的“热点”，包括电力使用、旅行、一次性物品、灌溉、后处理和废物焚烧。然而，已发表的泌尿学 LCA 的方法和报告质量通常需要改进和标准化。 重视 LCA 结果以及临床结果和成本的医疗保健评估和调试框架可以加速可持续创新。还需要快速实施已知的环境可持续解决方案的战略。