Description

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched its new office of Climate Change and Health Equity. In November of 2021, Admiral Rachel Levine of HHS committed to decarbonizing the US Federal health sector. In summer of 2021, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM) launched its Grand Challenge and Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Healthcare System. The Federal government and the private sector are working together through the NAM’s Action Collaborative to drive the US healthcare system to 50% reductions by 2030, and 100% decarbonized by 2050. Across the country, more healthcare systems are deeply diving into their carbon footprints and working to better deploy strategies to reduce the environmental harm that has historically characterized our industry. Many more communities are passing ordinances requiring all-electric construction. The problem is particularly difficult for existing healthcare buildings, and healthcare buildings with few resources. At the same time, organizations are focusing resources on helping healthcare organizations to decarbonize. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has funded important projects to author the book on how healthcare can decarbonize; how we can re-design ventilation systems to bring down energy needed to provide healthy environments; and demonstrating the ability of renewable energy microgrids to provide us the clean, reliable power our emerging world needs. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is pondering the development of a series of four Advanced Decarbonization Design Guides, focused on various ways to help the sector to decarbonize. The International Hospital Federation (IHF) has launched and is leading a global awards program to encourage the global sector to move, and the IHF is launching a new Climate and Health Leadership Institute. The World Health Organization (WHO) is beginning to focus resources on decarbonization. The goal of this paper is to give a brief overview of both international and U.S. (federal & local) initiatives to address the issue of climate mitigation and resilience for the health sector.

Product Details

Published:

2022

Number of Pages:

7

Units of Measure:

Dual

File Size:

1 file , 2.8 MB

Product Code(s):

D-94056-C33

Note:

This product is unavailable in Russia, Belarus