Ambassador Jenkins discusses the importance of recognizing health care system vulnerability against climate change, and health care’s role as a major global carbon emitter. He supports Health Care Without Harm’s Road Map as a useful tool to help health systems understand how to prevent carbon emissions while also ensuring the protection of climate impact vulnerable communities

This 2017 World Bank report, co-produced with Health Care Without Harm, provides a new approach to bridge the gap between adaptation and mitigation in the health sector. Climate-Smart healthcare encompasses both low-carbon and resilience strategies in an overarching framework rather than treating mitigation and adaptation solutions as separate approaches. These strategies are designed for the development community, ministries of health, hospitals, and health systems to deploy while addressing the health impacts of climate change.

This playbook captures examples of the many ways Health Care Climate Council members are moving toward climate-smart health care. The playbook is intended to inspire hospitals to engage further in climate action, and provide a vivid path forward to achieving measurable progress and outcomes.