Recognizing the critical need to address climate change through health sector leadership, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) launched the Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector (Climate Collaborative), a public-private partnership of leaders from across the health system committed to addressing the sector’s environmental impact while strengthening its sustainability and resilience.
Climate change is increasingly affecting people’s health and the ability of the U.S. health care system to effectively respond to increases in extreme climate-related events. Improving the carbon footprint of the entire health ecosystem can drastically lower the approximately 8.5% of U.S. carbon emissions for which it is responsible, while also having significant health, social, and economic benefits. There is a need to activate all parts of the health sector for sustainable change.
Recent Resources from the Climate Collaborative
Carbon Accounting 101
Carbon accounting is the process of measuring, tracking, and reporting an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions. The NAM Climate Collaborative hosted three Carbon Clinics designed to teach carbon accounting to health care delivery organizations. The Climate Collaborative is pleased to release the pre-recorded webinar series and related resources to provide a how-to, with real-world examples, for hospitals and health systems to reduce their carbon footprint.
Key Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by U.S. Hospitals and Health Systems
Climate change is increasingly affecting people’s health, which has direct consequences for the health care system. At the same time, the health care system is contributing to climate change. The National Academy of Medicine released a shortlist of 9 key actions for hospitals and health systems to set and meet goals that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Making Strides in Sustainability: Health Leaders Share Lessons on Pathways to Climate Action
The Climate Collaborative is pleased to share feature stories highlighting leaders’ voices on pathways to climate action. Hear how organizations are prioritizing sustainability initiatives to reduce the sector’s environmental impact and create a more sustainable and resilient health sector.
About the Climate Collaborative
The Climate Collaborative provides a neutral platform for its participants to align around collective goals and actions for decarbonization, based on evidence, shared solutions, and a commitment to improve health equity. Members of the Climate Collaborative represent health and hospital systems, clinicians, private payers, biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, health care services, health professional education, academia, nonprofits, and the federal government.
The Climate Collaborative’s work focuses on health care supply chain and infrastructure; health care delivery; health professional education and communication; and policy, financing, and metrics.
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The Climate Collaborative is part of the NAM Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity, a multiyear global initiative to improve and protect human health, well-being, and equity by working to transform systems that both contribute to and are impacted by climate change.
Recent Events
Decarbonizing Health Care: Taking the Next Step to Reduce Your Organization’s Emissions | August 29, 2023
Climate Collaborative Virtual Meeting | April 27, 2023
Related Resources
Leadership
Victor Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine
Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
George Barrett, former Chairman and CEO, Cardinal Health
Andrew Witty, CEO, UnitedHealth Group
Sponsors
Staff
Chris Hanley, Senior Program Officer
Franque Alexander, Program Specialist
Emma Lower-McSherry, Research Associate
Jessica Marx, Program Officer
Justin Massey, Associate Program Officer
Grace Robbins, Associate Program Officer
Samantha Phillips, Communications Officer
Contact us at ClimateandHealth@nas.edu
