Climate-smart Healthcare

How we are transforming European healthcare into a net zero carbon and climate-resilient sector:

The healthcare sector must take responsibility for the impacts that its own emissions are having on our health, and take action to decarbonise in line with the Paris Agreement.

The healthcare sector is responsible for 4.6% of net global emissions. We work with healthcare facilities to calculate and reduce their significant carbon footprint, as well as leverage their significant buying power (10% of GDP in Europe) to influence the supply chain.

As a frontline service tasked with treating the health impacts of climate change, the healthcare sector must be prepared for and resilient to the impacts of climate change.

A crucial aspect of our work is ensuring that healthcare institutions are prepared to protect healthcare facilities, healthcare staff, and the wider community from extreme weather events and other climate change impacts.

Healthcare professionals are consistently ranked as some of the most trusted professionals in society - and can thus be powerful advocates for change.

A key component of our work is mobilising healthcare professionals to use their trusted voice to drive climate action among colleagues, patients, the public, and policymakers. Through our healthcare professional networks - the Nurses Climate Challenge and Doctors for Greener Healthcare - and our annual European Healthcare Climate Summit, we encourage collaboration and build the movement for sustainable healthcare in Europe.

Climate-smart Healthcare projects

Carbon management mentoring programme

Helping hospitals integrate climate action into their planning and develop carbon management skills.

Operation Zero

Working with health authorities to measure their emissions and establish a decarbonisation roadmap.

LIFE RESYSTAL

Ensuring that health infrastructures across Europe are prepared for the impacts of climate change.

Greening the Brussels healthcare sector

Working with six pilot hospitals to support them in developing sustainability action plans.

MOUNTADAPT

Advancing healthcare climate resilience in European mountain regions.

C.A.R.E.

Community of Action for the Reduction of Emissions - a learning initiative to accelerate the sustainable transition of the healthcare sector.

Featured Climate-smart Healthcare resources

Debunking climate myths and empowering climate action

This new guide supports healthcare professionals to counter myths in their hospital or community about the need for climate action.

Mastering media interviews to promote climate and health

Our resource develops healthcare professionals’ media skills by providing an introduction to basic interview techniques and how to speak to the media.

Designing a net zero roadmap for healthcare: Technical methodology and guidance

Our Methodology supports any national or regional health authority to measure its healthcare emissions and develop a Paris-compatible decarbonisation…

Browse all our resources

Webinar | Getting started with healthcare climate resilience (07/02/2023)

This webinar explores how health professionals can future-proof their healthcare facilities against the impacts of climate change.

Watch all our webinars

2023 edition: Targeting healthcare's emissions hotspots

The fifth edition of the Summit tackled the highest-emitting parts of healthcare delivery - buildings, transport, and the supply chain.

Join us for the European Healthcare Climate Summit 2024

Registration is now open for the European Healthcare Climate Summit 2024, happening online on 10 October 2024.

Learn more about our annual Summit

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Europe’s 2023 Health Care Climate Challenge winners

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Building a cohort of health authorities committed to zero emissions

Two new national health authority partners have joined HCWH Europe and Arup's project Operation Zero…

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How can we make healthcare procurement climate-smart?

Supporting the reduction of the sector’s carbon footprint through sustainable procurement practices.

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See all news

How we are transforming European healthcare into a net zero carbon and climate-resilient sector:

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The healthcare sector must take responsibility for the impacts that its own emissions are having on our health, and take action to decarbonise in line with the Paris Agreement.

As a frontline service tasked with treating the health impacts of climate change, the healthcare sector must be prepared for and resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Healthcare professionals are consistently ranked as some of the most trusted professionals in society - and can thus be powerful advocates for change.

Climate-smart Healthcare projects

Featured Climate-smart Healthcare resources

Publications

Webinars

European Healthcare Climate Summit

Related news

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