Globally, Health Care Without Harm’s network collaborates with international organizations, national and subnational governments, and health care institutions and professionals to reduce the climate impact of health care operations, advocate for safer policies and regulations, and lead the global movement for environmental health and justice.
Whether you’re a health minister, CEO of a private health institution, or a health professional, Health Care Without Harm provides guidance and resources on decarbonization and adaptation strategies that bolster resilient health systems. We seek to enable health care to fulfill its mission of doing no harm while providing more equitable access to care.
Our work
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We partner with multilateral organizations and institutions to foster and achieve global change. By working together, we can embark on a road to recovery that’s healthier, more equitable, and more resilient for people and the planet. Health leaders can implement transformative solutions for a more sustainable health care sector.
- Alliance for Transformative Action for Climate and Health (ATACH): We are part of the Steering Committee of ATACH, an initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems. It uses the collective power of WHO Member States and other stakeholders to drive this agenda forward at pace and scale; and promote the integration of climate change and health nexus into respective national, regional, and global plans. Learn more.
- Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution: Health Care Without Harm is an observer organization to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, bringing forward and elevating the voice of the health care sector to end plastic pollution. Learn more about our work.
- Conference of the Parties (COP): Since 2011, our delegation has participated in the United Nations climate change conference bringing forward the voice of the health care sector, advocating for safer policies, the phasing-out of fossil fuels, and showcasing the impacts of climate change on health. Learn more about our work at COP28.
Health Care Without Harm and its partners around the world also work with national and subnational governments and health systems on every continent to develop policy frameworks and implementation plans for climate-resilient health systems that are low-carbon/net zero and adapted to climate change.
We are supporting national and subnational governments in the development of climate action plans, developing and piloting methodologies that national or regional health authorities can use to measure their health care emissions, baseline and reduce GHG emissions from the health sector, assessing the climate vulnerability of health facilities, and more.
Learn about our work in Africa, Asia, Latin and North America, and Europe.
Because the health sector is a major economic, political, and moral force in society, it holds the potential to play a leadership role in addressing the environmental impact of its operations. We work with hospitals and health systems around the world to develop, pilot, and scale solutions aimed at reducing their GHG emissions, the dependence on fossil fuels and the transition to cleaner energies, improving health care waste management, promoting the procurement of products and services with a smaller environmental footprint, and identifying and replacing toxic chemicals in health care settings.
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy can prevent the worst impacts of climate change while simultaneously improving health outcomes and health equity.
Get started:
- Health Care Climate Challenge and Race to Zero: Hospitals and health systems worldwide can join these two initiatives aimed at promoting the reduction of GHG emissions originating from the global health care system. Learn how.
- Climate impact checkup: Climate Impact Checkup is a calculator that helps health care institutions worldwide estimate their GHG footprint. It provides a starting point to measure and manage your emissions, support mitigation goals, and develop action plans no matter where your facility is located.
- Case studies: Together with our partners around the world, we convened representatives from 98 health care organizations spanning 20 countries to share their learnings from implementing decarbonization and climate resilience initiatives. Learn about their experiences and practices, and download a step-by-step guidance for sustainable, and climate resilient.
- Health care waste management: By properly sorting and reducing waste, hospitals not only avoid disposal costs and environmental hazards but also reduce the amount of raw materials, energy, and processing needed to replace the products they use and the environmental impact of their operations.
- Sustainable procurement in the health sector: Sustainable procurement can drive positive health impacts for patients, communities, and the environment. Learn best practices for the hospitals and health systems to measure success and share progress on reducing impacts to patients, workers, and communities.
- Chemicals in health care: The health care sector relies heavily on different chemicals for its operations. From anesthetic gasses to disinfectants, they are used in a variety of processes and products. Learn how we are working to identify and replace chemicals used in daily operations.
- Global Green and Healthy Hospitals network: Join our network of over 1,900 members in more than 80 countries who are using innovation, ingenuity, and investment to transform the health sector and foster a healthy, sustainable future.
Health professionals are among the most trusted voices in their communities. Country leadership looks to them for advice, families confide in them, and citizens want to adhere to what the country’s leading medical professionals have to say about their health.
Browse our initiatives and resources to join the health care climate action movement:
- Campaign and advocacy guide for health care professionals: This document is a powerful resource for health care professionals who want to harness their expertise and credibility to drive climate policy changes at local, national, and global levels. It provides actionable steps for organizing campaigns, hosting public awareness events, and collaborating with other advocacy groups to maximize impact and reach.
- Training: Delve into our collection of resources, including webinars, courses, and both in-person and virtual conferences.
- Join our health professionals networks: Whether it’s doctors and leading medical associations advocating for clean air and climate action in India, nurses mobilizing for a healthy climate in Europe and the United States, or a coalition of health professionals and policymakers seeking action on climate in Southeast Asia, we are coalescing a powerful network that is part of a growing ecosystem working to protect public health from climate change.