Following the June 30 announcement of Health Care Sector Climate Pledge signers, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) shared new resources for health care organizations working to reduce their emissions and increase climate resiliency.
OCCHE will host a webinar series, Accelerating Healthcare Sector Action on Climate Change and Health Equity, from July 14 through Nov. 17. Of interest to essential hospitals, a July 21 webinar will share insights on applying for financial support for climate actions, and a July 28 webinar will focus on emergency preparedness and response.
OCCHE also shared a companion resource compendium, which includes:
- general guidance and support for emissions reduction;
- general guidance and support for resilience and emergency response;
- financial resources, funding opportunities, and in-kind support; and
- nonfederal support.
Notably, OCCHE featured The State of Climate Resilience and Climate Mitigation Efforts at Essential Hospitals, a 2019 publication from the Essential Hospitals Institute, in the compendium.
Future Efforts
OCCHE, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on The Million Hearts Climate Change & Cardiovascular Disease Collaborative. Starting in fall 2022, this forum for health care organizations will discuss the effect of climate change and air pollution on cardiovascular health, review evidence-based interventions, and share solutions and tools.
In September, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will release a toolkit to support measurement, data collection, and initial actions on decarbonization.
Further, the Biden administration and HHS have reopened the health care climate pledge; organizations have until Oct. 28 to sign and will be recognized in November.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
