Why Climate Smart Healthcare?
As health professionals, we have a mission to help people live their fullest, most vibrant lives, to prevent illness, to cure disease, to build healthy communities, and above all, to do no harm. But, the healthcare sector is responsible for 8.5% of US climate and air pollution causing harm to the populations we serve and worsening health disparities.
Climate change harms health and threatens the delivery of healthcare when we need it most.
Record hurricanes, floods, and wildfires make it hard for people to get needed prescriptions and see their doctor when they are sick.
Power outages place medically vulnerable residents at risk when they are unable to refrigerate life-saving medications or run home medical equipment.
Climate disasters have a ripple effect on the resilience of all healthcare systems, as extreme weather events across the globe have disrupted supply chains and caused shortages of essential medications and supplies.
We envision another kind of healthcare - one that fosters environmental sustainability, equity, and health.
The Climate Smart Healthcare workgroup works to catalyze action from NC health systems to promote sustainability and racial justice. The healthcare sector must acknowledge its own contribution to climate change and the impact of climate change on public health. That means reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions and developing plans to address the new health risks of a changing climate. We work closely with our institutional partners to support, celebrate, and accelerate these efforts.
John Lohnes, PA-C, MHS, MEM, CPH
Co-Chair
Alicia Whiteis, MD
Co-Chair
Climate Smart Healthcare Workgroup Activities
Educating clinicians and C-suite leaders on the HHS Climate Sector Pledge; supporting the CACHE letter campaign requesting all NC Health system leaders commit to the HHS pledge.
Convening health system partners in a climate-smart healthcare collaborative to share resources and amplify efforts.
Creating teams of hospital, community health center, and health leaders to participate in leadership development around community and health system climate initiatives.
Identifying small NC hospitals who, while not currently involved in such efforts, acknowledging the importance of this work and supporting them in starting this work.
Educating providers and C-suite leaders on the healthcare system’s contribution to climate change through one-on-one meetings, medical society newsletters, webinars, etc.
Informing stakeholders of co-benefits of decarbonization, including significant cost savings (even further enhanced by Inflation Reduction Act funding) as well as health benefits.
Encouraging diverse NC medical professional societies to advocate for Health system decarbonization in order to promote sustainability, health, and equity.
Working with 3-5 hospitals or community health centers to incorporate climate into their vulnerability assessments and institutional preparedness efforts.
Educating health care leaders about the advantages of decarbonizing their operations and informing them about what government and private resources are available to assist them with this transformation.
Informing NC communities most affected by climate impacts of the health system’s contribution to this crisis; offering communities the opportunity to join with CACHE in challenging these institutions to do better.
Recruiting healthcare provider sustainability champions.
Providing media with quotes and interviews on the adverse impact of hospitals on climate.
Identifying small NC hospitals who, while not currently involved in such efforts, acknowledge the importance of this work and support them in starting this work.
“The health sector has a substantial role to play in both mitigating climate change through the adoption of low-carbon strategies, while also building resilience to climate impact.”
— World Bank