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. We engage health professionals in advocating for systemic change within their health systems, and reimagining a sustainable, low-waste healthcare that supports healthy communities.
We envision another kind of healthcare - one that fosters environmental sustainability, equity, and health.
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 healthcare sustainability.
Convening health system partners 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, acknowledge the importance of this work and supporting them in starting this work.
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.
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.
“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