After a year of extreme weather events, from deadly heat waves and record droughts to rare December tornadoes, climate change continues to make headlines and drive action

How would you describe the progress made by the healthcare sector in helping to mitigate climate change in recent years?

Gary Cohen: The past few years have been profound. Last year alone, the United Nations launched an initiative called the “Zero Emissions Race”, allowing the hospital system to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest and halving emissions by 2030. At the Glasgow Climate Conference in November, more than 50 organizations representing more than 14,000 hospitals in 21 countries made a commitment to this.

Sima Wadhwa: Healthcare’s perception of environmental sustainability has indeed changed. I think this is correct in the wider society. Once the dialogue is focused, what have we done to our environment? How do we affect the air, trees and waterways. This really turns more, what impact does the environment have on our health?

What do you think is the primary driving force for medical institutions to invest in combating climate change?

Cohen: I think there are many reasons. One is their mission-to serve patients and the community. They are seeing more and more disruptive effects in these communities. In a sense, many interventions can save money. You can reduce waste, reduce energy intensity, and green your operating room. You buy more reusable items instead of disposable items.

Wadhwa: This is the mission. If you think about the purpose of healthcare organizations, it is to improve the health of the communities they serve. …If we are loyal to anything, climate change is the key and core of what we need to do. We are now seeing the impact of climate change on health.

Regarding the role of healthcare in tackling climate change, what do you think is truly optimistic?

Cohen: There is a very big opportunity between government, supply chain, private sector, and non-profit organizations to join forces to accelerate climate action across the sector. I hope that the cooperation that we are also involved in will really promote the entire industry-it will see that the next iteration of high-quality healthcare means that it is climate-smart healthcare.

Wadhwa: What I am most optimistic about is how we can solve some of the challenges between climate, health and equity in multiple ways. What I mean is that climate change is indeed a power multiplier, and it is not a good way for people who are disproportionately affected by climate change: low-income communities and communities of color that have been challenged.