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Climate change impacts not only human health but also the delivery of health care and the ability of communities to rebound from extreme weather events and changes in disease prevalence. The most vulnerable – children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income communities, and communities of color – bear a disproportionate burden of the impact and are the least equipped to recover. Hospitals on the front lines of the climate crisis must adapt both their infrastructure and service delivery to remain effective in the face of new threats. And they must explore the hospital’s role and investments needed to build resilience in their communities. Events over the past decade – such as Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and the Northern California Camp Fire – have demonstrated that many hospitals and communities are not prepared for new weather extremes and health needs.Our visionHealth Care Without Harm envisions hospitals serving...

Virginia Mason chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, M.D. speaks in support of carbon pricingin Washington state. (Yes on 1631 campaign) The challengeHospitals and health professionals serve on the front lines of climate change, bearing the cost of more frequent extreme weather events and changing disease burdens. Public investments in infrastructure and preparedness affect the ability of a hospital to be “climate ready.” Hospitals and health systems are large purchasers of energy, so their financial viability – as well as the cost of patient care – is impacted by local and state energy policy.Hospitals and health systems have a direct stake in climate solutions and clean energy policies and must be at the table when these important decisions are made. As valued anchor institutions, hospitals are also essential partners for advancing mitigation and climate resilience strategies in the communities they serve...

The Climate Action Playbook highlights a wide range of mitigation initiatives implemented by U.S. Health Care Climate Council members.The challengeScientific reports have emphasized the urgent need for all sectors of society to take swift, meaningful action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy. Without a rapid transformation to a low carbon society, the health threats of a warmer planet will grow increasingly severe and more numerous, especially for the most vulnerable members of our communities. Alternatively, moving away from dirty fossil fuels to renewable energy promotes cleaner air and water, which generate immediate health benefits.Operating 24/7, hospitals are among the most energy-intensive commercial buildings in the country, using 2.5 times the energy of a typical office building. The footprint of the hospital is vast, ranging from...

Our objective is to ensure health systems are resilient to climate impacts and are actively supporting community climate resilience as anchor institutions.

This patient education brochure explains how climate change is impacting the number and frequency of extreme heat events, how extreme heat affects the human body, and how people can take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. Spanish versionThis poster explains how extreme heat affects the human body. It is designed for a waiting room or other community and patient space at a hospital or out-paitient facility.Visit our website for additional patient educational materials on climate and health topics.

Learn which companies and health systems are driving change and what health care leadership can do to encourage market transformation.

Read the profiles below and be inspired by the ways members of Health Care Without Harm’s Physician Network are taking action to promote climate-smart health care, protecting their patients from climate change and environmental threats, and advocating for a sustainable future.

Health Care Without Harm uses a unique structure of collaboration to affect our change sector wide. Our team includes employees of Health Care Without Harm, environmental and health organizations, institutions and independent consultants.

Purpose The purpose of this grant is to support an educational, advocacy, organizing, communication, research, or other project that aligns with the goals of the Health Care Without Harm Physician Network to support physician or medical student action to promote climate-smart health care through mitigation, resilience, or leadershipTerms and ConditionsActivitiesGrantees may be asked to create a digital poster or present their project during a webinar during or after the award period.All grant funds provided by Health Care Without Harm must be used to support project activities that are consistent with section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the applicable regulations.  No grant funds may be used to participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or to provide a selective benefit to any political party...

Thanks to a generous gift from Blair and Georgia Sadler, Health Care Without Harm established the annual Blair and Georgia Sadler Fellowship in 2022, providing an opportunity for emerging clinical health leaders who want to work on equitable, climate-smart health care in their institutions and communities.

Through inspiring films and stories, this series explores a new role for health care organizations as drivers of community collaboration enriching the health and well-being of the people they serve.

What you buy matters, your food purchasing decisions can transform the supply chain so that it reflects the values of health, equity, and environmental stewardship.Your purchases can help:Invest in strong regional food economies that promote nutrition security and build community health, wealth, and climate resilience.Support farmers and food producers who use less resource- and carbon-intensive production practices such as growing plant-based foods, and using regenerative and organic agriculture in order to grow resilient food systemsOvercome supply chain challenges, ensuring adequate inventory even during emergencies and supply chain disruptionsSupport the growth of food and farm businesses owned by people of color which increases equity in the food system and strengthens community wealth and health.Design and implement a healthier food purchasing programAct nowMany leading health systems are partners of Practice Greenhealth, our membership organization. Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth provide...