Tools and resources

Global Road Map for Health Care Decarbonization

A navigational tool for achieving zero emissions with climate resilience and health equity This is the second in a series of research and policy papers that Health Care Without Harm and Arup have produced together to identify a set of actions the health sector can take to align itself with the ambition of the Paris Agreement while simultaneously achieving global health goals. Green Paper One…

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How health systems plan for resilience

Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm guided hundreds of hospitals and health systems across the United States to write climate resilience plans in alignment with the HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge. This recording will provide a brief overview of the HHS Pledge and summarize key lessons to help you through each stage of a resilience planning process. Planners from Beth Israel…

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2021 Sustainability Data

• Benchmark Report

Each year, Practice Greenhealth collects and reviews comprehensive sustainability data from hospitals that report through the Environmental Excellence Awards. We utilize this data to provide the sector’s best sustainability performance benchmarking data to hospitals and health systems working to build environmental stewardship into their mission, and to the greater health care supply chain…

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Partnering for climate resilience: A practical guide to community-based disaster planning for health care

• Climate and Health
• Resilience
• Guide
• Community Benefit

This guide provides actionable steps and sample materials to assist health systems and community organizations in conducting an exercise aimed at identifying vulnerabilities and inequities and preparing for climate impacts. Partnering for climate resilience: A practical guide to community-based disaster planning for health care provides a new approach to disaster planning and climate…

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Climate resilience for health care and communities: Strategies and case studies

• Climate and Health
• Resilience
• Report

Climate Resilience for Health Care and Communities: Strategies and Case Studies provides a strategic framework for building truly climate-resilient health systems and communities, and explores how health care institutions can leverage investments to support equitable decarbonization and build community resilience, health, and wealth. Through case studies, this paper outlines actions health…

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How industry leaders are framing sustainability

• Engaged Leadership

Hear from health care and business leaders why sustainability is important from a mission and business perspective, how to prioritize it among competing initiatives, and how sustainability is intimately connected to building community health, wealth, and resilience. Each speaker will share: How their organization came to realize the sustainability imperative and how the commitment plays out in…

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Making the case: Sustainability leadership strategy presentation template

• Engaged Leadership

When preparing for meetings with prospective sponsors or executive champions, use or modify this slide deck for formal presentations that outline the opportunity for alignment of sustainability and community resilience principles with the overarching strategic goals of the hospital or health system. There's plenty of room to bring in the unique attributes of your health care facility and…

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Understanding labels: Fair labor and sustainability practices

• Sustainable procurement
• Food

Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm recommend that food purchased carry one of these certifications when possible: the Agricultural Justice Project, Fair for Life, and Regenerative Organic. These certifications are recommended because of their commitment to addressing the social and economic determinants of health, individual health and safety of workers, and community resilience…

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Renewable energy sources for hospitals

• Energy

Hospitals and health systems around the world are investing in clean, renewable energy to protect the health of their patients and communities, attract and retain top-tier talent, increase the resilience of their operations to disasters, and reduce energy costs and price volatility. Combining renewable energy with electricity storage can help hospitals remain operational during extreme weather or…

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Renewable energy: Imperative to act

The health care industry is the only sector with health as its core mission. Open 24/7 and buzzing with high-tech, life-saving equipment, hospitals are incredibly energy-intensive facilities, consuming roughly 2.5 times more energy per square foot than a typical commercial office space. While being used to save lives and improve patient health, this energy is often generated by the combustion of…

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