Worldwide, the health sector is responsible for 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate change has led to unprecedented levels of existing and newly emerging physical and mental health problems, from new infectious diseases to spikes in gender-based violence. This wide-ranging impact of climate change on human health threatens to reverse decades of global development progress, especially among populations who are most vulnerable and least able to adapt to the changing environment.
As the health impacts of climate change add to the burden on the global health sector, the health care industry’s carbon footprint increasingly contributes to environmental degradation. In turn, climate change affects the health sector’s ability to deliver safe, quality care and causes disruptions in service that put a strain on the entire health system, affecting patient outcomes as well as access to care. Climate-smart health care initiatives seek to put an end to this vicious cycle by addressing workforce challenges; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and waste management; infrastructure and technology challenges; and clean energy provisions.
FHI 360’s global health platform brings us into direct and frequent contact with policymakers and national health professionals around the world. Our global, regional and country leaders engage in conversations about climate-smart health care and the climate-health nexus with funders, partners and government counterparts to offer our research, health and advocacy expertise.
Our climate-focused work in the health care space includes decarbonizing the health sector (mitigation) and building health system resilience (adaptation). By applying a climate lens as we tackle diseases and mental health and enhance equity and social inclusion, we are helping ensure that the future of health is both inclusive and environmentally friendly.