European Healthcare Climate Summit 2019

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In September 2019 HCWH Europe held the first annual European Healthcare Climate Summit, which saw over 100 sustainable healthcare leaders from 15 countries come together to share their experiences of tackling climate change in the European healthcare sector and learn about Climate-smart Healthcare in Europe.

As well as contributing to the development of a Climate-smart Healthcare Roadmap for 2030 - attendees heard from leaders in sustainable healthcare - photographs from the summit and featured presentations are available below.

You can also read a summary of the event in this report

 

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Access the European Healthcare Climate Summit photo album

The health sector is on the frontline when it comes to dealing with the ever-increasing effects of climate change; and yet the sector with a unique healing mission is also contributing to the problem through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its activities, undermining the health of the very populations it seeks to heal. The summit was also an opportunity to share Health Care Without Harm's recently published landmark report providing the most comprehensive global analysis of healthcare’s contribution to climate change to date. Climate change not only damages the environment and human health, but also threatens the sustainability of our healthcare systems in Europe.

During the Summit, attendees gave their valuable input to in developing our new 2030 Roadmap for Climate-smart Healthcare in Europe. This roadmap will set out a new sector-wide vision and framework for action, creating momentum to accelerate progress towards effective climate action within the European health sector focused on our three Climate-smart healthcare goals:

  • Leadership – working towards system and supply chain transformation to drive innovation and change, and leveraging the voice of healthcare professionals to raise awareness and encourage wider community action on climate change.
  • Mitigation – mobilising greater action on CO2 reduction at an organisational level, with more rapid investment in carbon abatement solutions, greater clinical participation in carbon reduction efforts, and decarbonisation of the supply chain.
  • Resilience – equipping health providers with the tools and insight needed to become more resilient to the worst predicted impacts of climate change and empowering communities to do the same.

Featured presentations [Full agenda available here]

Welcome messages and setting the scene

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How the health sector contributes to the global climate crisis and opportunities for action

Josh KARLINER, International Director Program & Strategy - HCWH Global

T

owards Climate-smart Healthcare

Will CLARK, Executive Director - HCWH Europe

Climate-smart Healthcare

Viktor JÓSA, Climate Policy & Projects Officer - HCWH Europe

Radboudumc: Vision for Climate-smart Healthcare

Cathy VAN BEEK, Chair - European Healthcare Climate Council (EHCC)

Session 1: Leadership

Advocacy to delivery 

Sonia ROSCHNIK, Director - Sustainable Development Unit 

Partnerships for Climate-smart Healthcare

Fiona ADSHEAD, Chair - Sustainable Healthcare Coalition

Session 2: Mitigation

Our Climate Emergency journey

James DIXON, Head of Sustainability - The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust

 Mitigating climate change through Care Without Carbon

Susie VERNON, Associate Director Sustainability - Sussex Community NHS
Foundation Trust

 Sustainability in quality improvement: Harnessing clinical innovation

Dr Frances MORTIMER, Medical Director - Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

Session 3: Resilience

Saving lives with solar: Opportunities to invest in a healthy future

Martin PEAKE, Business Development Manager - Beat the Cold

Climate-smart Healthcare Resilience

Dr James SZYMANKIEWICZ, Director of Strategy and Partnerships - Centre for
Sustainable Healthcare

Closing session: The Health Care Climate Challenge

 Health Care Climate Challenge

Nick THORP, Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network Director - HCWH Global