June 2023: The latest in climate, health and sustainability
Climate and Health Alliance
We're building a powerful health movement for climate action.
GGHH News
Welcome to our new GGHH Pacific members!
We’re delighted to welcome the following health institutions as members of the Global Green & Healthy Hospital (GGHH) network:
The GGHH Pacific network now has 148 members! Together, we represent 2,300+ hospitals and health services across Australia and New Zealand. It’s wonderful to see more health institutions committed to tackling their environmental footprint.
Want to join the network??Find out how you can join?— it's free!
Program out now! Greening the Healthcare Sector
We're thrilled to announce that the early program is here for Greening the Healthcare Sector Forum!?In-person tickets include catering and offsets for the carbon emissions associated with the forum. For organisations that wish to stream the event at their own venue for staff, there is an option for online group admission.?Register here.
Case study: Facilitating Environmentally Sustainable and Climate Resilient Healthcare
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service participated in a collaborative research project with 澳大利亚格里菲斯大学 and GGHH Pacific to facilitate the transition to sustainable and climate resilient healthcare and contribute to the emerging evidence base, while maintaining high quality, equitable health care. Read the summary.
Sustainable Healthcare News?
National Health and Climate Strategy - consultation now open!?
The consultation on Australia's first National Health and Climate Strategy is now open!?This is a huge milestone for climate and health policy in Australia. The consultation closes on 24 July.
The Consultation Paper can be found?here. CAHA is doing a comprehensive analysis of the strategy and will be putting out a submission guide to assist members and stakeholders to respond with appropriate feedback.
Environmental Sustainability Award - NSW Health Awards
The Environmental Sustainability Health Award is a new award that recognises achievements in reducing NSW Health 's environmental footprint, whilst continuing to deliver high quality healthcare and patient experience. Nominations close 14 July.?Read more.
Midwives go green at Western Health
The Green Maternity Intervention led by midwives at Western Health ’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital resulted in a 71% decrease in clinical waste and 48% reduction in waste management costs.?Read more.
A French roadmap for sustainable healthcare
The Ministère de la Santé ?launched the roadmap for sustainable?healthcare in collaboration with key health and care organisations in France. Read more.
The seven axes include:
Plastic Free July Morning Tea
Across the globe, communities are inspired by the Plastic Free July Morning Tea?— a popular way of making and sharing food, fun and conversations about plastic free solutions. We encourage readers to host a Plastic Free Morning tea at your workplace.?More info and resources here.
HealthShare NSW trials robotic scrubbing device and electrolysed water pilot programs
The most recent magazine by Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare IHHC features an article about a trial at two public hospitals in NSW of electrolysed water.?Read it here.
Connecting For Impact Fund: Health Research Council NZ
The Health Research Council of New Zealand is pleased to announce the launch of a new research investment mechanism – the ‘Connecting for Impact Fund’. This fund replaces the previous Partnership Programme and contributes to a strategic, proactive and equitable approach to the targeted investment portfolio. The first research priority for 2023 will focus on climate change and its impacts on health and wellbeing.?More info.
Closing today | Premier's Sustainability Awards?
Sustainability Victoria is excited to once again deliver the Premier’s Sustainability Awards in 2023. Celebrating its 21st year, the prestigious awards program continues to adapt to reflect the depth and innovation of sustainability within industry, business and community across Victoria. Submissions close 30 June.?Apply here.
Education and Events
Taiao. Tangata. Hauora. Advancing Planetary Health?— Climate Health and Sustainable Healthcare in Aotearoa
Wellington and online (with Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin hubs), 5-6 July 2023
This is Aotearoa's annual #climatehealth conference! The conference theme has a focus on mātauranga Māori, challenging delegates to become more connected and knowledgeable and shift the paradigm towards environmental sustainability and climate resilience. The program will include a series of presentations interspersed with interactive and panel discussions.?More info.
Climate Adaptation Conference 2023
Adelaide Convention Centre, 24-27 July 2023
The conference focuses exclusively on climate vulnerability, impacts and adaptation. It is an opportunity to share knowledge and experience, to network and strengthen the growing community of adaptation practice and research in Australia.?Read more.
World Hospital Congress
Portugal, 25-27 October 2023
The World Hospital Congress of the International Hospital Federation is a unique global forum connecting leaders and decision-makers of hospitals, health services and healthcare organisations.?More info.
Climate and health at the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare
Melbourne, 30 Oct-1 Nov 2023?
This year, the International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare will address eight themes, one of which is ‘Sustainability, climate change and environmental impact on health’.?More info.
Research, resources & reports
Research
PLoS ONE, November 2022
This scoping review?mapped what is known about the environmental impact of health care for musculoskeletal conditions.
Journal of Medical Internet Research,?December 2022
This systematic literature review?assessed the impact of virtual consulting on environmental sustainability in healthcare.
领英推荐
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, April 2023
This research?evaluated the carbon footprint of products used within five common operations and the biggest contributors to carbon footprint.
International Journal of Nursing Student Scholarship, May 2023?
This literature review?aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the success of environmentally sustainable initiatives in healthcare.
Family Practice, May 2023
This research?aimed to establish the prevalence and associations of Australian GP registrars' perceptions of climate change as it relates to public health, education, and workplaces.
Cureus, May 2023
This research?describes the role of care transition teams in reducing readmissions and financial stress in hospitals.
Australian Journal of General Practice, May 2023
This article?outlines the steps required to achieve and promote sustainability from practice operations through to clinical care and advocacy.
Resources
Towards PVC-free healthcare: Reducing environmental impact and exposure to harmful chemicals is the latest publication by Health Care Without Harm Europe . The report provides a comprehensive overview of these risks and highlights the steps that healthcare providers are already taking towards a PVC-free future.
The Green Feeding Tool calculates the carbon and water footprints of commercial milk formula and helps illustrate the carbon offset that could be achieved by increasing breastfeeding and reducing commercial milk formula use.?Read here.
This resource by Health Care Without Harm serves as a guide for health care anchor institutions to deepen their engagement with community partners to achieve goals for equity and resilience. It also allows you to assess where your organisation’s work falls in this spectrum of strategic planning with community partners and anchor institutions, and commit to doing more.?Read here.
This resource by CASCADES provides background information and implementation resources designed to address environmental sustainability in perioperative care.?The playbook goes beyond the operating room to consider perioperative care more broadly, including the ways in which upstream decisions impact the environmental footprint of care.?Read here.
Practice Greenhealth has expanded and updated their food guidance and resources.?Read here.
WarpITSoftware has released several case studies featuring the NHS achievements in maximising the reuse of furniture and equipment.?Read here.
The Climate Resilient, Low Carbon Sustainable Pharmacy playbook is intended for Canadian pharmacy professionals including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, educators and trainees. It provides background information, resources and considerations to guide more climate resilient and environmentally sustainable pharmacy practice.?Read here.
Thanks for reading!
Share your sustainable healthcare success story
We want to profile stories of environmental initiatives in health (no matter how big or small) to show what is possible and inspire others to improve sustainability in their own workplace. If you have a project you'd like to share with us, email?[email protected]
Join GGHH
If you are interested in signing up your organisation to GGHH Pacific,?find more information here?or email?[email protected]
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This newsletter is brought to you by Australia’s peak body on climate and health,?Climate and Health Alliance. CAHA’s mission is to build a powerful health sector movement for climate action.
Both individual health professionals and health organisations can become members of CAHA. If you like what we do, and would like to support our work,?please donate!