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.
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.
This campaign and advocacy document is a resource for health care professionals who want to harness their expertise and credibility as trusted voices to drive local, national, and global climate policy changes.
“Reclaiming health activism in the age of climate crisis” is a compelling campaign guide that draws inspiration from the rich history of health activism in effecting social change. This document aims to rally health professionals worldwide to take on a new challenge: Advocating for climate action.
The health care sector contributes roughly 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with G20 countries accounting for over 75 percent. Urgent decarbonization is critical, and while the trajectory and approach may differ among G20 nations, all countries must work towards achieving net-zero health care emissions by 2050.
What is Just Transition? The lack of a universal consensus around the definition has led to multiple interpretations shaped by the interests of different stakeholders. While labor movements prioritize workers' rights and job security, environmental justice groups advocate for impacted communities. Multilateral institutions, investors, and transnational corporations view it through an economic lens.
On June 13-15, Gavi's Global Vaccine Impact Conference convened leaders from over 20 countries in Madrid under the theme “Raising Generation Immunity”, to assess progress in routine immunization and life-saving vaccinations. Hosted by the Government of Spain, this event gathered world leaders and immunization experts to address challenges and explore opportunities. Health Care Without Harm’s International Climate and Health Campaigner, Shweta Narayan was one of the keynote speakers.
How can the health care sector reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the environmental impact of its operations? Which are the best practices and solutions available for the sector? What are some common challenges the sector faces, and how are they addressed in different parts of the world?
A recent commentary co-authored by Health Care Without Harm and published in The Lancet shows how the health care sector has been stepping up to the global climate challenge.
Health Care Without Harm, the official health care sector partner of Race to Zero is thrilled to announce that over 70 health care institutions, that are members of the GGHH Network and represent more than 14,000 hospitals and health care facilities from 25 countries, have joined the campaign.
Health Care Without Harm is presenting its position paper on Just Transition, which includes the principles and positions that guide the conversation on this topic.
Live stream links and more information added daily. All event times are shown in local time (Egypt, EET). To calculate the time in your local time zone, visit this page.