The extreme climate events being experienced in the United States are significantly impacting the health care system. In fact, climate change has been shown to hamper access to health services, increase health care costs, and exacerbate health care disparities. While health care systems shoulder the burden of caring for individuals affected by climate change, they also contribute to the problem. The health care sector alone is responsible for 8.5% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
There are proactive steps health systems can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Our climate and health policy research team has identified five key steps health systems seeking to make a positive change can take. By implementing these measures, health systems can contribute to the fight against the climate crisis while simultaneously working to enhance health outcomes and equity. Sign up below to learn what these measures are and hear from our experts about what we can do differently to make a climate-resilient health system.
