Since its inception in 2015, the Climate Challenge has played a vital role in mobilizing health care institutions worldwide to take impactful climate action. 

Together, they committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent of 1.4 million gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.

A few months ago, we proudly introduced our 2024 Climate Champions, a group of institutions leading the way in climate-smart health care. These visionary leaders are transforming health care with innovative solutions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and building community resilience.

Health Care Without Harm is proud to present its 2024-2028 International strategic plan, which addresses the interconnected challenges of climate change and health, and sets the course for the collective work of our international network. 

For the ninth consecutive year, we have the privilege of recognizing outstanding health care institutions from around the world that are fully committed to adopting low-carbon health care practices, strengthening climate resilience strategies, and advocating for policies that prioritize the health of our planet.

Climate change poses an undeniable threat to our planet and the well-being of future generations. As we witness its far-reaching effects, it's becoming increasingly clear that urgent action is required across all sectors, including health care. The importance of health care climate action cannot be overstated; it's not only about reducing carbon emissions but also safeguarding public health, ensuring resilience against climate-related disasters, and demonstrating leadership in sustainability practices.

Plastics is a global health crisis hiding in plain sight. Throughout the lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal, a wide array of toxic chemicals and microplastics pose risks through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Communities, health workers, and health systems are already witnessing the detrimental impacts of plastic production and pollution.

During COP28, over 40 key thinkers and leaders from international organizations, government agencies, health systems, and civil society participated in a roundtable session to discuss how to accelerate health care climate action. The discussion focused on the pivotal current moment and future prospects for health care decarbonization and resilience, including the role of prevention as a mitigation strategy, acknowledging and addressing North-South complexity, and building an evidence base, tools, and technical capacity.

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.  

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.

• Laetania Belai Djandam, Climate Officer, Health Care Without Harm.