On March 9, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) reopened its pledge to reduce emissions in the health sector.
Originally launched in April 2022, the voluntary pledge asks institutions to commit to:
- Reducing their organization’s emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and to net zero by 2050 and publicly reporting their progress.
- Completing an inventory of scope 3 emissions, which are associated not with a specific institution but with activities the association indirectly affects within the supply chain.
- Developing climate resilience plans for their facilities and communities and designating an executive lead for this work.
The pledge will accept new signatories on an ongoing basis. Organizations that sign the pledge by April 12 will be recognized on Earth Day; organizations that sign the pledge by Nov. 1 will be recognized in conjunction with the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
OCCHE continues to provide information and resources on climate resilience and emissions reductions through its website and webinar series.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
Author