The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care aims to build capabilities and capacity in individuals and organizations to enable the development of an environmentally sustainable, net-zero and climate-resilient health system. Paving the way for an ideal green community.
Health care is everywhere. From hospitals to community centres, health care is deeply integrated into different parts of the community. As we face this climate crisis, the health care system has the privilege and responsibility to lead the way towards an ideal green community. We can do this in 3 ways:
- Anchor institutions, like hospitals, can lead the way on sustainability and be a shining light for others in the community
- Health facilities and clinics interact with many parts of society and business. Our choices matter. We can choose who we buy from, and what we buy.
- Health care professionals have been identified as the most trusted of all professions. Health care professionals have the opportunity to provide community leadership in actions against climate change as well as in the adoption of technologies and practices that improve the health of individuals and the planet.
Elements of the Ideal Green Community
About Us
For over 20 years the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care has been helping those working in health care facilities, non-governmental and governmental organisations, individuals, students and businesses to share green health care best practices and to become better equipped to deal with the growing demands placed upon them to be environmentally responsible health service workers and individuals.
Together with our Board of Directors, members, staff, Interns, volunteers and supporters across Canada, the Coalition provides a virtual platform for the sharing of ideas and resources; we lend support to those seeking to build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable health service delivery system and we strive to improve access to best practice information, innovative goods and services that offer a clear environmental advantage to users within the sector, and provide a venue for stakeholders to work together to reduce health care’s environmental impact.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Coalition.
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care traces its roots back to October 21, 2000 when 27 representatives from some of Canada’s largest health care associations and environmental groups met in Ottawa at an environmental educational day organised by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
Since then, the Coalition and its member groups have had a significant impact upon the greening of the Canadian health care landscape and have been involved in a very wide variety of local and national initiatives: mercury thermometer exchange events, the facilitation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) project with the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, publications such as “Doing Less Harm: Assessing and Reducing the Environmental and Health Impact of Canada’s Health Care System,” the original newsletter “Coalition Notes”, the “Building Green Hospitals Checklist,” and the Coalition LISTSERV.
For over 20 years the Coalition has encouraged the adoption of resource conservation, pollution prevention principles and effective environmental management systems to reduce the Canadian health care system’s ecological impact while protecting human health.
To support sustainability leadership in health care, the Coalition has provided education and mentoring to organisations and individuals in many areas. Past programs include the Climate Change Resiliency Mentoring Project, the WAHA First Nations Energy Project, how to start a Green Team and the Green Health Leader’s initiative.
The Coalition is very proud of its longstanding affiliation with the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society and the eight year association it has forged with the Ontario Hospital Association that has resulted in the development and launch of the Green Health Care Awards, the Green Education Sessions held at the OHA’s annual HealthAchieve conference, and Canada’s first and largest green health care trade show feature, The Green Lane.
We would like to thank the following organisations for their support in helping launch the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and for fostering green health care initiatives in Canada over the last decade:
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Toronto
Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention (C2P2)
Canadian College of Health Service Executives (CCHSE)
Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES)
Canadian Medical Association (CMA)
Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)
Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)
Canadian Society for Environmental Medicine (CSEM)
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
Great Lakes United
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (HSC)
Ontario College of Family Physicians, Environmental Health Committee
Pollution Probe
RiverSides Stewardship Alliance
St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto
Women’s College Hospital – Environmental Health Clinic, Toronto
Toronto Environmental Alliance
University of Alberta Hospital
University Health Network, Toronto
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority – Laboratory Medicine Program
Resources
Vision: An Environmentally Sustainable, Climate Resilient, Net Zero Canadian Health System
Mission: To build capabilities and capacity in individuals and organizations to enable the development of green health policies and practices
Strategic Directions:
- Identify and work with change makers
- Measure impact
- Build networks of influence
Values: Commitment to public benefit - excellence and innovation - integrity - accountability and stewardship of resources
Overall Strategies: environmental stewardship campaigns, challenges, education, building and leveraging relationships and communities of practice
Want to support the Coalition? Join our Green Health Care Community and become a member! Learn more HERE.
News
New Guidebook - Sustainable Health Care: An Implementation Guide for Rheumatologists
Check out the latest Guidebook for Environmental Stewardship, developed by the Ontario Rheumatology Association and the Canadian Rheumatology Association, alongside PEACH and the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. View the Guidebooks.
Micro-Mobility Case Study - Yukon Home Care Embraces E-Bikes
Read the Coalition's first case study of our Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative, focusing on battery-powered micro-mobility. View the case study in ENGLISH or in FRENCH.
Join our National Health Care Forest
With the help of our partners, the Coalition is helping to create a national health care forest! If you are interested in planting trees or shrubs at your facility, please reach out to us using our CONTACT US page.
Events
November 8th - Creating Space and Healing Climate Emotions for Planetary Health
On November 8th, CCGHC and PEACH Health Ontario welcomed speakers Anna Gunz, Kady Cowan and Nate Charach to discuss how we can help individuals express feelings of climate grief and transform them into planetary healing. You can watch the webinar recording HERE.
November 14th - Look Ma... No Gloves! Safely addressing unnecessary glove use
On November 14th, CCGHC and CASCADES began our "Addressing Unnecessary Glove Use" series where we are diving into the various approaches employed by organisations to tackle the issue of unnecessary glove use. You can watch the first webinar in this series HERE.