Global | Health Care Without Harm supports World Medical Association’s call for divestment

Global | Health Care Without Harm supports World Medical Association’s call for divestment

During its annual assembly in Taiwan, the World Medical Association (WMA) called on health organizations to divest from fossil fuel based companies and to invest in companies that uphold environmental principles consistent with United Nations policy. Health Care Without Harm supports the WMA’s call for divest and similarly urges health care organizations around the world to move towards clean energy solutions.

Given the energy intensive nature of its operations, health care has a moral responsibility to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. By investing in clean …

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UK | Health professionals call for joined-up approach to climate change and air pollution

UK | Health professionals call for joined-up approach to climate change and air pollution

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change – representing 600,000 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals – has urged the Government to protect the public’s health by implementing its pledge to phase-out coal power.

In its inaugural report entitled A Breath of Fresh Air: Addressing Climate Change and Air Pollution Together for Health published on October 18, the Alliance argued that approaches to addressing both challenges simultaneously will create much greater health benefits and cost-savings than strategies which address them separately.

Professor John Middleton, President of the …

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Australia | Healthcare professionals concerned about climate impacts, says survey

Australia | Healthcare professionals concerned about climate impacts, says survey

A survey conducted by the Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA), Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Energy Initiative partner in Australia, reveal overwhelming concern among Australian healthcare stakeholders regarding the lack of a national strategy to protect Australians from the health impacts of global warming.

In this new report, more than 130 peak health bodies, unions and health professionals – including doctors, nurses, midwives, public health practitioners and psychologists – were asked to evaluate the health sector’s preparedness for the impacts of climate change.

The results uncovered major gaps and widespread concerns, revealing:

Health professionals …

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Global | Conference on Climate and Health Care at COP22 – Register now!

Global | Conference on Climate and Health Care at COP22 – Register now!

As world leaders convene in Marrakech, Morroco to map out strategies to achieve the climate goals agreed upon in Paris last year, Health Care Without Harm and The Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech are pleased to host the Climate and Health Care Conference – COP22 on November 14, 2016.

This one-day conference brings together health sector representatives and experts from around the world to discuss the integral role of health care in this global effort. Speakers, including representatives from the government, private, and public sector of …

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Global | New film showcases health care’s mission to protect people and the planet

Global | New film showcases health care’s mission to protect people and the planet

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, Health Care Without Harm is excited to release Do No Harm, a short film telling the inspiring story of this global movement.

Once upon a time, a small group of doctors, nurses, and health care leaders realized that, in violation of the Hippocratic Oath to “first, do no harm”, some hospital practices were harming patients and the planet. This small effort grew into a global movement advocating for change on the critical environmental health issues of our time. As …

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Global | Health Care Without Harm celebrates 20 years of protecting health and environment

Global | Health Care Without Harm celebrates 20 years of protecting health and environment

Celebrating Health Care Without Harm’s 20th anniversary, Gary Cohen reflects on the last two decades in the environmental health movement and offers an opportunity for health care to redefine its role in the 21st century.

When we started Health Care Without Harm, we hardly knew anyone who worked in the health care sector. We were mostly outsiders, community activists who had been working for decades in the environmental movement. But we knew we needed powerful allies to transform this emerging science linking the environment to our …

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Global | Conference on Health and Climate sets health action agenda for implementation of Paris Agreement

Global | Conference on Health and Climate sets health action agenda for implementation of Paris Agreement

More than 300 government ministers, health experts and practitioners, and other participants came together at the Second Global Conference on Health and Climate, hosted by the WHO and the Government of France, to propose key actions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement to reduce health risks linked to climate change. These actions include switching to cleaner energy sources, advancing low-carbon health care, and increasing the resilience of health systems and health determinants to climate risks.

Highlights from the Conference:

Conference Conclusions
Action Agenda
Conference Programme
HCWH at the WHO …

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England | Over £400m of savings can reduce carbon emissions by 1 million tonnes

England | Over £400m of savings can reduce carbon emissions by 1 million tonnes

The National Health Service from England (NHS) and wider health sector could save up to £414m and cut 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year by 2020 through making changes that can also benefit people’s health.

A new report by the Sustainable Development Unit for NHS England and Public Health England selected 35 areas and calculated their financial and environmental benefits.

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Global | Health professionals call on G7 nations to phase out coal

Global | Health professionals call on G7 nations to phase out coal

82 organizations from 30 countries representing more than 300,000 doctors, nurses, and public health professionals and advocates are calling on G7 nations to accelerate the transition away from coal to save lives.

Healthy Energy Initiative partners Health Care Without Harm, the Health and Environment Alliance, and the Climate and Health Alliance, along with the Initiative’s health sector partners in several countries, are among the signatories of the Global Health Statement on Coal Plants.

Dignity Health, ThedaCare, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Seattle Children’s Hospital – members of …

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Global | Health sector appeal to G7 on coal – sign on now!

Global | Health sector appeal to G7 on coal – sign on now!

UPDATE: The Global Health Statement on Coal Plants was launched on May 18th with the signatures of 82 organizations from 30 countries representing more than 300,000 doctors, nurses, and public health professionals and advocates. Read more.

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In anticipation of the upcoming G7 Summit* in Japan on May 26-27, health professionals and health organizations around the world are invited to sign a statement calling on the G7 nations to accelerate the global transition away from coal-fired electricity in order to protect public health from …

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