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Preparing for Climate Change at Health Care Facilities: Wildfires and Smoke
Date: May 14th, 2024
Time: 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET
Wildfires threaten both the health of Canadians and the ability of health care facilities to provide the care. Last year’s wildfire season was the worst in Canadian history due to high drought, low moisture cover and high temperatures.
In this webinar hear how Interior Health in BC dealt with the wildfires and smoke last year, what resiliency and adaptation planning they have implemented and are considering, and how Emergency Management was coping on the ground. This information can help guide other health care organisations to be better prepared to deal with wildfires and smoke.
For more information see the Canadian Medical Association post: Wildfire season is here. Is Canada’s health care system ready?
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The Green Office Challenge
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, PEACH and the Hamilton Family Health Team Green Team, with sponsorship from HP, are hosting a NATIONAL COMPETITION to determine the Greenest Primary Care Office in the Country!
The Ask: Answer questions and score your practice in the different areas of sustainability.
HINT: The questionnaire is heavily guided by the Green Office Toolkit 2.0.
Timeline: Official announcement coming soon! In the meantime, email Autumn at autumn@greenhealthcare.ca to express your interest and be first to know when the questionnaire is released.
Prize: Being awarded the title of having the Greenest Office in Canada and a complementary prize.
We look forward to sharing additional details soon!
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Health Care Sustainability and Burnout Survey
Anastasia MacDougall invites members of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care community to participate in a survey for research as part of a capstone project in the Master of Environment & Business program through the University of Waterloo exploring organizational change methods to advance sustainable development in Canadian health care organizations within a culture of pervasive burnout.
It is an entirely anonymous survey that takes 5-10 minutes to complete for individuals that work in health care organizations and have experience with environmental sustainability change initiatives in their organization.
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Lancet Commission Case Studies
Do you work in health care? Do you have a sustainability story to share? The Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthcare (LCSH) is currently welcoming case studies to help supplement their understanding of how health systems around the world are taking action on sustainability.
The LCSH is interested in the breadth of global efforts that have either been necessary to adapt to climate change, ecosystem disruption and related human health challenges, or that seek to mitigate future disruption through reducing the impact of health care.
Deadline for submissions: August 31st, 2024
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Funding Opportunity for Hospitals | |
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There is a new "Community Infrastructure Fund" set up by the RBC Foundation. The Fund is open to hospitals wishing to build new, "greener" infrastructures (certification required) or to carry out retrofits aimed at carbon neutrality. Amounts awarded range from $25,000 to $2.5 million, paid over a maximum period of five years. The deadline for applications is June 14.
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Effectiveness of greenhouse gas mitigation intervention for health care systems: a systematic review
National Library of Medicine
Researchers systematically searched eleven electronic databases to identify evidence-based interventions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in health care systems in low- and middle-income countries and explore potential synergies from these interventions that aid climate change adaptation while mitigating emissions.
They found opportunities to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, but gaps in evidence were identified across sources of emissions, such as the supply chain, as well as a lack of consideration of interactions with adaptation goals.
As efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas intensify, rigorous monitoring, evaluation and reporting of these efforts are needed. Such actions will contribute to a strong evidence base that can inform policy-makers across contexts.
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Every day is Earth Day: Indigenous Peoples and their knowledges for planetary health
The Lancet
Indigenous Dene Elder Francois Paulette from northern Canada talked about climate change at the 2015 Parliament of the World Regions and warned “Your way of life is killing my way of life.” More than eight years after this speech, an estimated 68% of the Northwest Territories, Canada, which includes the Dene Peoples territory, was evacuated due to 238 wildfires. Communities lost their homes and hunting and food-foraging areas and were exposed to poor air quality for months on end.
Elder Francois’ words still ring true today for many Indigenous Peoples around the globe. We are still far away from the world understanding the impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities and the need to move towards efficient and comprehensive action for planetary health.
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Reducing financial exposure to fossil fuels | | |
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Building on the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) commitment to a healthier planet, they have spent the past several years implementing a divestment strategy:
- 2015: CMA's General Council delegation passed a motioned to divest CMA of it's holdings in fossil fuel companies.
- 2020: CMA Board of Directors voted to expand the 2015 member resolution on divestment by committing the CMA and it's subsidaries to divesting investments in energy companies whose primary business relies on fossil fuels.
- 2021: Investment portfolio overseen by CMA Impact Inc. had fully addressed the resolution by divesting.
- 2022: CMA is on track to achieve a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in its investment portfolio by 2030.
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2023: With partners, CMA wrote a policy brief stressing the need for urgent emission reductions with the #1 recommendation being divest from fossil fuel and invest in renewable energy.
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Info sessions and engagement: Prevention of non-residential (ICI) packaging waste
The British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is seeking input on a series of desired outcomes and potential policy approaches to prevent waste from non-residential (ICI) packaging, in schools, hospital, offices, restaurants, job-sites and other locations outside the home.
How do I provide feedback?
If you have any questions, please email CircularCommunities@gov.bc.ca.
This engagement process is open until July 23rd, 2024.
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Four circular building pathways towards 2050
Circular Buildings Coalition
A recent publication by the Circular Buildings Coalition highlights four “circular building pathways” that foster a net-zero construction sector.
The construction sector in the EU is a major contributor to carbon emissions and waste generation, with unsustainable practices pushing the sector past critical global warming limits.
However, applying circular economy principles through a 'Circular Building Scenario' alongside industry decarbonisation has the potential to significantly reduce the sector's CO2e emissions by 4.15 Gt, keeping the 2°C global warming scenario within reach, and reducing material consumption by 6.7 Gt between 2024-2050.
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Reusable Health Care Textiles for Personal Protective Equipment: A Workshop
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a virtual public workshop in early March to examine opportunities to increase the use of reusable health care textiles (HCTs) for personal protective equipment (PPE) used in health care settings.
This workshop provided the opportunity for technical experts, policy makers, manufacturers, PPE users, and others to explore the potential benefits and feasibility of integrating more reusable HCTs into health care operations.
You can now view recording of the workshop sessions and read the Reusable HCT Briefing Book on their website.
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2024 CCHL National Awards Recipients
Canadian College of Heath Leaders
The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce seven recipients of the 2024 CCHL National Awards Program.
These awards will be presented at the Honouring Health Leadership event on June 2, 2024. Visit this link to register for the awards ceremony.
Congratulations to the following health care organizations:
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Interior Health
- Mackenzie Health
- CIUSS Centre Ouest de l'Île de Montreal
- Nova Scotia Health
- CHU Sainte-Justine
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New St. Vincent's Heather Long-Term Care Home Sets New Standard for Energy Efficiency
The Daily Scan
The St. Vincent’s Heather project is charting a new course in sustainable health care practices. As the new 240-bed seniors care home development moves forward, a key aspect in the design planning is ensuring the most sustainable and energy-efficient development possible.
At Providence, they recognize the urgent need to address the challenges posed by climate change. Climate resilience practices are a priority for all major capital projects, and the St. Vincent’s Heather project is no exception. Their commitment to sustainability isn’t just a goal – it’s a guiding principle that shapes every aspect of the project.
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Major upgrades to Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario for cleaner, healthier air and energy savings
Environment and Climate Change Canada
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Canadians are calling for ambitious climate action that keeps the air clean while building a strong and clean economy for the future.
Today (May 9th, 2024), Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced an investment of up to $1 million from the Low Carbon Economy Fund to support the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s (CHEO) Deep Energy Retrofit Program.
Projects like this, supported by the Low Carbon Economy Fund, will help sectors work toward innovative solutions that will allow them to reduce emissions and create jobs while building a strong, sustainable future for generations to come.
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Release of RETScreen® Version 9.1
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Version 9.1 of the RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform is now available for download from the RETScreen website. This update has arrived with a number of salient new features to enhance the RETScreen experience!
One of the latest features is an automated Net Zero Planning Tool which further enables portfolio-wide decarbonization planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting – all available within one single multilingual platform. Learn more about the new tool HERE.
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EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS | |
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Protecting Patients Through Wildfire Season: What you need to know
Date: May 28th, 2024
Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm PT
Join UBC for this free accredited educational session where highly experienced and knowledgeable medical experts will answer your questions and share their knowledge regarding how to address the potential harms of exposure to wildfire smoke.
Learning objectives:
- Recognize the known and unknown significant health effects of wildfire smoke
- Identify characteristics that increase susceptibility or vulnerability to health effects
- Understand and apply strategies to empower and protect patients at risk of exposure
Register HERE.
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Mobilizing Circularity in Canada's Built Environment
Date: June 18th, 2024
Time: 10am PT/1pm ET
This 75 minute webinar will share the outputs from a multi-phased project led by Circular Economy Leadership Canada (CELC) and CSA Group, in collaboration with industry and government partners, to advance the CBE in Canada.
Learning objectives:
- Share insights on the current state of circularity within Canada’s built environment, including the supportive policies, standards, and important gaps.
- Discuss the big moves and critical actions required for mobilizing change to a more circular built environment in Canada.
- Highlight some of the current efforts being undertaken to advance a CBE in Canada, and discuss what comes next.
Register HERE.
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CASCADES Webinars
Leading change: Mobilizing Quality Improvement for Sustainable Healthcare
Date: May 16th, 2024
Time: 9am PT/12pm ET
In this session speakers will discuss the frameworks and principles of quality improvement and how sustainability can be embedded within QI at the organizational and provincial levels.
Social prescribing approaches for health equity and community climate resilience
Date: May 29th, 2024
Time: 9am PT/12pm ET
In this session we will hear from a multi-disciplinary team who are putting social prescribing concepts into practice, learn more about building community engagement and resilience, and co-creating programs.
Explore the event HERE.
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2024 Food as Medicine Global Conference
Date: May 18th-19th, 2024
The Food as Medicine Global Conference features the often unheard voices of people working at the intersections of food, health, community, social justice, and planetary well-being. The program highlights community efforts that support food sovereignty and health justice. The conference will be entirely online to support more equitable access and to create an eco-friendly event.
To support a diverse global community, Certificates of Attendance for the Food as Medicine Global Conference will be distributed via email to attendees who participate during the live event.
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Pre-conference Course, Thriving People & Flourishing Planet: Leadership in Action!
Date: May 23rd, 2024
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm ET
Location: Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal
This in-person course will apply the discipline of leadership to frame and address challenges pertaining to planetary health, social inequities, and declining health outcomes.
Reviewing high-level, projected climate-related health care impacts, related costs and existing climate-related health care initiatives will focus participants on urgent needs and opportunities. Facilitated small group leadership discussions will follow to address climate crisis impacts.
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Registration is Now Open! CHES 2024 National Conference - Sept. 8th-10th | |
The 2024 CHES National Chapter Conference & Trade Show will be held in Halifax Nova Scotia on September 8th-10th.
The theme for this year’s conference is: "Enriching Patient Experiences by Optimizing the Environment"
Registration is now open!
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Have you registered as an organ donor?
Contact your local organ donation agency and speak to your family about your wishes. You have the power to save and transform lives. Learn more and register to donate HERE.
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The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s premier green health care resource network, leading the evolution of green in Canada’s health sector as a national voice and catalyst for environmental change. www.greenhealthcare.ca | |
Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service. | | | | |
