Expanding the horizons of climate-smart healthcare, together
On 10 October 2024, we held the 6th Annual European Healthcare Climate Summit. Hosted online, this year's Summit featured 15 speakers from across Europe, and almost 300 attendees joined us over the course of the day.
With the effects of climate change intensifying, the healthcare sector faces growing challenges in reducing its carbon footprint and building climate resilience. This year’s Summit focused on exploring innovative, tangible solutions to build climate-resilient and net-zero healthcare across Europe, answering the need for new ideas for some, and concrete, replicable actions for others.
Participants enjoyed key highlights such as:
- An opening keynote from HCWH Europe's new Executive Director, Mark Wilson, on the persistent challenges facing the sector and how we can overcome them
- Real-world case studies on decarbonising healthcare, offering actionable steps to get from vision to reality - with speakers from Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and the Region of Stockholm
- Innovative approaches to reducing emissions from the most complex areas, with speakers from Karolinska University Hospital and Newcastle NHS
- Insights into climate resilience strategies that ensure the sustainability of healthcare in the face of climate challenges - focusing not just on infrastructure, but on people and processes, with speakers from the Galician Health Service and the Climate Psychology Alliance UK
- Discussions on the role of healthcare professionals leading the transition to climate-smart healthcare, from effective communication about climate & health to mobilising among your organisation - with speakers from Sustainability NHS Highland and HCWH Europe
This day was packed with thought-provoking discussions, innovative ideas, and real-world insights. To end the day, a live discussion between two leaders in the field, Maria Gaden and James Dixon, gave us all a chance to reimagine the future of healthcare.
That future is looking bright: this year's Summit saw its highest attendance yet, making it clear that there is tremendous momentum behind the shift to climate-smart healthcare.
Connecting to grow the movement
The Summit is a reminder that the journey towards climate-resilient and net zero healthcare is both a shared responsibility and an incredible opportunity for transformation. We offer our sincere thanks to all attendees and speakers for enriching a global network of hospitals, healthcare facilities, and individuals involved in the effort to build climate-smart healthcare in Europe, and worldwide.Thank you for making this virtual gathering a success and for your commitment to driving positive change in healthcare!
Catch up: Read the report and watch the recordings
For those who missed out, you can now read our comprehensive event report. Additionally, recordings of all sessions are now available on our YouTube channel and below.
Watch the keynote address from Mark Wilson, Executive Director - HCWH Europe
Watch Session 1: Decarbonising the healthcare sector, from vision to reality
Watch Session 2: The frontline of climate-smart solutions
Watch Session 3: Advancing healthcare climate resilience - a holistic approach
Watch Session 4: Healthcare professionals leading the transition
Watch the closing session: Expanding the horizons of climate-smart healthcare
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
