Leading the way for a healthy climate
Climate change is undoubtedly one of the gravest challenges humankind has ever faced. The fabrics of natural ecosystems and our societies are beginning to unravel from the devastating impacts of climate pollution. This crisis presents an unparalleled threat to our health and well-being. It also presents an opportunity for transformative systems change.
Whether treating respiratory disease from fossil fuel or wildfire pollution or protecting hospitals from floods, health care providers are first responders to these climate emergencies. Yet, health care’s climate footprint is also a significant contributor to this problem, with 4.4% of global net emissions. Health care’s most potent message is to lead by example–cutting emissions quickly and building climate resilient health systems.
By working together, we can embark on a road to recovery that’s healthier, more equitable, and more resilient for people and the planet. Health leaders can implement transformative solutions to prevent fossil fuel pollution and prepare systems and facilities for climate impacts.
We must act fast and we must act first.
Whether you’re a health minister, CEO of a private health institution, or a health professional, Health Care Without Harm provides guidance, and resources on decarbonizing, bolstering resilient health systems and demonstrating leadership. We seek to enable health care to fulfill its mission to do no harm while providing more equitable access to care.
Over 70 health care institutions representing more than 14,000 hospitals and health centers joined the Race To Zero.
Country commitments to strengthen the climate resilience and sustainability of their health systems.
Achieving zero emissions, climate resilience and health equity
Country commitments to strengthen the climate resilience and sustainability of their health systems.
On November, Health Care With Harm and the Global Climate and Health Alliance launched the COP28 Open Letter on fossil fuels, unifying the voice of organizations representing over 46 million health care professionals from 135 countries.
Each year, we celebrate institutions at the forefront of health care climate action with our Health Care Climate Challenge awards. These hospitals and health systems are pioneering innovative and effective solutions to mitigate health care’s climate footprint and enhance their resilience. They are beacons around the world guiding the health care sector on its climate-smart journey.
Health Care Without Harm global network at COP28
The Health Care Without Harm's delegation at COP28 is its largest and most diverse ever, with 12 members from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, South East Asia, the UK, and the United States.
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Laetania Belai Djandam, Climate Officer, Health Care Without Harm.
Health Care Without Harm global network at COP28
The Health Care Without Harm's delegation at COP28 is its largest and most diverse ever, with 12 members from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, South East Asia, the UK, and the United States.
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Laetania Belai Djandam, Climate Officer, Health Care Without Harm.
The Climate Impact Checkup is a revolutionary tool designed to empower health care institutions worldwide in assessing their environmental impact by estimating their greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Since its launch two years ago, this groundbreaking calculator has gained traction, with over 500 healthcare facilities spanning more than 25 countries actively embracing it to monitor and transparently report their GHG emissions closely.
1st November, 00:01 hrs CET: A letter published today on behalf of the international health and medical community, addressed to COP 28 President-Designate Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber demands that “countries commit to an accelerated, just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as the decisive path to health for all” at the annual UN climate conference, taking place in December in the United Arab Emirates
By Andrea Hurtado Epstein
In conversation with Shweta Narayan from Health Care Without Harm, we discuss health systems’ environmental footprint and what can be done to prevent and mitigate the next crisis to come.
Health Care Without Harm works to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability, and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice.
The climate and nature crisis presents severe challenges to the operations of global health systems. Pollution, biodiversity loss, and burning fossil fuels create public health emergencies at scale and disrupt health systems. Digital health may have a role in the management of such challenges and in greenhouse gas emission reduction. However, this management and reduction can only be effective if there is buy-in at the national level. How can the international health community use technology to influence governments, not just to decarbonize the health sector, but all of society?
Together with our partners around the world, Health Care Without Harm convened representatives from 98 health care organizations spanning 20 countries to share their learnings from implementing decarbonization and climate resilience initiatives.
In a new article published on Medium, Patrick Osewe, Director of Health, Human and Social Development Division, Asian Development Bank, and Josh Karliner, Director of Global Partnerships, Health Care Without Harm, analyze the global impact of the G20 health ministers’ new, groundbreaking commitment to health care resilience and decarbonization.