In a world where healthcare is front and center in most developed economies and makes up a significant part of the economy in developing nations, the climate problem has and will continue to impact healthcare around the world.
Industries across the board are adapting to ensure we have a sustainable future, from switching to electric car fleets to cutting down on waste in production and offsetting emissions, or even carbon capturing at the source.
Healthcare is no different; all US hospitals and healthcare facilities combined consume around 9% of the national energy supply and generate around 8.5% of national greenhouse gas emissions.
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What is Climate-Smart Healthcare?
In essence, climate-smart healthcare means a healthcare system that lowers its environmental impact and plans to mitigate the future impacts of climate change. This approach aims to reduce the current environmental impact while becoming ready for future climate change.
To do this successfully, healthcare facilities across the board need to adapt to withstand the weather changes and resource issues climate change could bring whilst simultaneously implementing sustainable practices, like waste reduction, eco-friendly materials, and increasing energy efficiency with innovative technologies and renewable energy.
The long-term goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare and safeguard public health from hazards associated with climate change.
The Importance of Climate-Smart Healthcare
As we have highlighted, the healthcare sector is both a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a big consumer of energy. Unfortunately, there is more…The healthcare system in America consumes large quantities of water and uses many single-use items like needles and masks, which have to be disposed of, causing large amounts of waste.
Luckily, it’s not all doom and gloom; plenty of people are creating innovative ways to reduce waste, generate energy on-site, capture emissions, and so much more.
Nurses are represented widely across these efforts to change the system, as anyone from a seasoned nurse, a recently registered nurse, or a student pursuing qualifications like RN to NP online programs will know.
This effort to adapt the system exemplifies just how important nurses are in the healthcare system; they make up more than a fifth of all healthcare jobs and contribute massively to the day-to-day running of hospitals and clinics, as well as big-picture projects like healthcare reform and climate-smart programs.
Climate Proofing Healthcare
To reduce the risk of climate change, especially in areas frequently hit by extreme weather events, many hospitals have retrofitted their building, and new structures are planned to account for extremes. Simple steps like this make sure healthcare is resilient.
To reduce energy consumption in many hospitals, there are plenty of companies that work in healthcare that propose simple changes like switching to LED lights, optimizing HVAC systems, implementing smart energy usage systems (using AI), and much more.
On a larger scale, the grid as a whole is shifting towards renewables, with more solar, wind, and storage.
On a small scale, hospitals, clinics, and even front-room doctor’s offices can install solar systems and energy storage–which many hospitals already have as a backup.
Climate-Smart Healthcare Measures for Nurses
Nurses are so important to healthcare. Being at the forefront of patient care, they play a vital and extensive role in climate-smart healthcare. Nurses are activists, educators, and innovators in the adoption of sustainable practices as healthcare systems strive to lessen their environmental impact.
Advocacy is one of the most effective ways nurses can make a difference. Nurses have the power to advocate for sustainable activities, including cutting medical waste, stepping up recycling efforts, and implementing energy-efficient technologies in healthcare settings, whether they are influencing hospital policies or supporting more comprehensive healthcare changes.
By highlighting laws that support sustainability in hospitals and clinics, groups such as the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) have shown the effectiveness of nurse-led environmental lobbying.
How Nurses Help
Nurses are more aware than most of the direct health effects of climate change. These health consequences can range from increased respiratory illness due to air pollution to heat-related conditions and the spread of infectious diseases.
By educating patients about climate-related health risks—like the importance of hydration during heat waves or the dangers of poor air quality for those with respiratory conditions—nurses help communities adapt to a changing environment on a daily basis.
