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Safety, security and sustainability: Towards a reusable PPE system for Canadian health care |
Join us for our webinar as we demonstrate how transitioning to a reusable PPE system can result in environmental benefits, cost savings, and stability for health care facilities. We show how all of this is possible without sacrificing the safety of patients and health care workers.
The health care sector has increasingly contributed to plastic pollution through the consumption of disposable personal protection equipment (PPE) and other medical single use plastic (mSUP) products under the guise that single use products are the safe choice; however this is not always the case.
In this one-hour discussion we will:
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Provide an overview of the Coalitions project, Reducing Health Care-Related PPE and Medical Single Use Plastic Waste Through Circular Economy Principles, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada;
- Introduce circular economy concepts;
- Showcase the benefits of transitioning to reusable PPE;
- Discuss infrastructure, tools and resources to help guide health care professionals and their transition to reusable PPE systems; and,
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Debut a short video showcasing testimonials from health care professionals who support transitioning to a reusable PPE system.
Date: May 26th, 2022
Time: 9:00am PT/ 12:00pm ET/ 1:00pm AT
We will also be offering a French version of this webinar on May 27th, 2022 in French.
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Fundamentals of Sustainable Health Systems |
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Fundamentals of Sustainable Health Systems is a professional education program for frontline staff, administrators, and leaders within care delivery, professional, and support organisations with an interest in harnessing opportunities to achieve high quality, low carbon care.
Through interactive, transformative, and experiential learning online and in two afternoon Zoom sessions, participants will gain knowledge, develop skills, and forge collaborations that will help them advocate for and participate in a bottom-up and top-down shift toward a more environmentally sustainable health system.
The program is offered online by CASCADES, which strives to support Canada’s health care community to transition toward a sustainable (net-zero, resilient) health system. A certificate of completion will be awarded at the end of the course.
Registration is now open for two upcoming sessions:
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Waste audits are a valuable tool for organisations to assess what’s being wasted and uncover revenue streams. They also evaluate the effectiveness of waste reduction programs, measure success, and improve operations.
A proper and effective waste audit is conducted by a qualified waste auditor, and Circular Innovation Council is pleased to offer its Waste Auditor Training sessions starting June 21st, 2022 based on a Standard Waste Audit Method, that supports development in key areas:
- accurate and standardized methods of measuring and reporting performance;
- auditing principles;
- sampling methods;
- benchmarking and data analysis;
- best practices; and
- compliance with regulation.
Registration deadline: Friday May 20th, 2022
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A BIG thank you to SaveOnEnergy for their continued financial support for the Ontario Green Health Care Award and the Ontario Energy Behaviour Award.
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Climate change may increase risk of new infectious diseases
Modern Healthcare
Climate change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species by 2070 — and that's likely to increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans, according to a new study.
This is especially true for Africa and Asia, continents that have been hotspots for deadly disease spread from humans to animals or vice versa over the last several decades, including the flu, HIV, Ebola and coronavirus.
Researchers, who published their findings Thursday in the journal Nature, used a model to examine how over 3,000 mammal species might migrate and and share viruses over the next 50 years if the world warms by two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which recent research shows is possible.
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Canada must urgently invest in research into the health impacts The Star
The federal budget allocated a lot of money to trying to tackle the causes of climate change, but it glaringly missed the opportunity to support research that would help address the impacts of climate change on human health. Those impacts are already significant and worsening every day.
According to the World Health Organisation, climate change will cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths from malnutrition and heat stress every year between 2030 and 2050. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has called a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change an “atlas to human suffering” because of its prediction of the accelerating impact of climate change on people.
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Watch: Exploring environmental benefits of digital health care tools and other approaches to the greening of health care
The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
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From innovations like telehealth to remote patient monitoring, digital health tools are making health care more convenient and controlled for patients and providers alike. They also have environmental benefits as the health care industry seeks to reduce carbon emissions. This panel will explore the adoption of digital technology to protect the planet while empowering health-conscious consumers to take better care of their health and capacity-stressed health systems to better address their challenges.
Watch the recording of this Sustainability Week 2022 webinar as the esteemed Business & Technology speakers explore the topic.
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Is geothermal energy finally seeing the light of day?
Corporate Knights
Twenty years ago, Stephen Grasby was met with blank stares when he mentioned that he studied geothermal energy. Taking no offence, the geochemist plugged away as a researcher for the Geological Survey of Canada, convinced that one day the stars would align such that geothermal energy – the earth’s heat – would form an instrumental part of the country’s energy picture.
Now that day seems to be dawning. It’s not the energy source that has changed; from as early as the Paleolithic era, humankind has exploited the heat within the earth for bathing and washing in hot springs. Now we know that constant energy source originates in the earth’s molten core, estimated to be 6,000°C, comparable to the temperature of the sun. That heat is a constant and, thanks to radioactive decay, expected to remain so for billions of years.
What has changed, however, is the state of technologies required to access that energy and, more importantly, a growing global consensus that, in an era of climate change, this low-carbon energy source needs to be fully exploited.
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Public transit authorities are taking action to electrify bus fleets across Canada
Electric Autonomy
Canadian municipalities are leading the way in fleet electrification with dozens of transit authorities coast-to-coast actively adopting zero-emission buses. The latest benchmark of the sector’s progress to lowering its emissions comes from four cities in three provinces with some taking further, and others completely new, steps toward electrification.
The highlight reel of recent announcements paints a clear picture of the direction municipal fleets are headed and the level of commitment with which they are doing it:
- Toronto Transit Commission, in April, ordered 270 new hybrid-electric buses to include in its fleet;
- Ottawa’s OC Transpo says it’s adding 26 new battery-electric buses by the end of 2023;
- the City of Regina approved in May the adoption of the city’s first Transit Master Plan that will add electric buses to its transit fleet; and
- Saint John Transit presented to local city council in April plans for electrifying its buses.
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NRCan opens new call for proposals to fund zero-emission public, on-street, multi-unit residential building or fleet refuelling infrastructure
Electric Autonomy
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Natural Resources Canada is once again opening a round of funding through the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) to support electric and hydrogen refuelling projects across Canada.
Eligible projects in the current request for proposals (RFPs) call-out include: public, on-street, multi-unit residential building, workplace (not including home offices) or fleet vehicle refuelling infrastructure.
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Gundersen Health Systems is on a mission to remain energy independent
BuildingGreen
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Gundersen Health Systems is a group of hospitals based in Wisconsin. It says that it is energy independent, producing its renewable energy on-site as well as procuring it from producers. It then pairs the energy produced by solar, wind, and biomass with energy efficiency measures. The hospital’s goals are to reduce its energy cost, remain energy independent, and be an environmental steward in the health care sector.
It uses wood chips, representing 38% of Gundersen’s energy independence goal. The boilers create steam, which is captured and reused to heat the building in the winter. It’s also used to dehumidify the air and sanitize medical equipment.
But it was not always that way. The boilers used to run on fossil fuels. But when the time came to refurbish the boilers, it chose a biomass boiler.
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Near real-time hourly weather data is now available directly within the latest version of RETScreen Software’s Performance Analysis module. As part of our ongoing collaboration with NASA, you can now download hourly weather data for the entire surface of the planet!
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EVENTS, TRAINING AND WEBINARS |
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#WeAnswerTheCall for environmental sustainability |
How will you answer the call for environmental sustainability in your nursing role?
On Wednesday, June 1st at 1:00 PM ET, join CASCADES for a one-hour networking event celebrating the important work of nurses engaged in and environmental sustainability environmental justice within their roles.
You will hear from some of the storytellers who shared their experiences for Nursing Week and have the chance to connect and discuss with other nurses across Canada who are interested in environmental sustainability. Whether you have years of experience or are just getting started, join us and grow your connections with this vibrant community of changemakers.
If you are interested in reading the nurses’ stories about how they are engaging in environmental sustainability and environmental justice within their roles in the hospital, community, administration, education, research or in government visit the story gallery
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Climate, health and health care: A speaker series for health professional learners |
The Green Meds Coordinators at UofT's Temerty Faculty of Medicine have partnered with CASCADES, CAPE, CANE and CFMS-HEART to create a Canadian-wide speaker series addressing climate change and its impacts on health and our health care system.
There is only one more session left! On May 18th at 7:00PM ET watch Patient and Planetary Health: Lessons from Indigenous Knowledge Systems with Nicole Redvers, June Kaminski, and Ojistoh Horn.
If you've missed previous sessions you can now watch the recordings on YouTube!
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Choosing wisely Canada's national meeting |
Choosing Wisely Canada’s National Meeting in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association takes place virtually on May 25 & 26, 2022. By bringing together health professionals, patients, system leaders, and researchers, this two-day virtual event is a unique opportunity to learn about leading Choosing Wisely efforts taking place across the country.
Why you’ll want to attend:
- Engage with the Choosing Wisely community in an energized exchange of ideas on overuse.
- Hear about practical and implementable strategies for reducing overuse, and understand their impact.
- Network with colleagues who share a commitment to reducing overuse.
What you’ll learn:
- How to translate and apply best practices for reducing overuse in health care in their clinical settings.
- How to design effective approaches for evaluating interventions related to reducing overuse.
- How to develop strategies to share successful interventions across their health care organisation.
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Exploring eco-anxiety in youth: A nursing perspective
In this presentation, organised by The Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE), the speakers tackle eco-anxiety and difficult environment-related emotions and their impact on youth.
As the most chronologically vulnerable population to climate change, young people's concerns about this issue are increasingly relevant to their mental health and overall well-being.
Recognizing that work needs to be done in this area, these speakers will discuss eco-emotion concepts, research, and ways forward from nursing and youth leadership perspectives.
Date: May 17th, 2022
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PT
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National Adaptation Strategy Symposium
Join You are invited to participate in the upcoming National Adaptation Strategy Symposium. Attend the event to learn more about the development of Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy and to participate in the launch of public engagement on the Strategy.
The event will feature an opening presentation by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada; Panels on climate change adaptation opportunities and challenges in Canada; and a presentation on the latest climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Canadian Centre for Climate Services.
Date: May 16th, 2022
Time: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM ET
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2022 Zero Waste Conference: A future without waste
Be inspired by the entrepreneurs and innovators that are making the circular economy a reality; engage with policy and business leaders from across the country; and hear from global pioneers leading the way.
With a curated program, from engaging keynote presentations and interactive sessions to new networking sessions, this year’s event offers something for everyone.
Dates: September 28th & 29th, 2022
Early bird in-person rates are available until May 31st, 2022! You can also register for their virtual option which include access to programming real time and exclusive access to conference recordings.
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Booking for booths at IFHE 2022 is open! |
The online booking form for booths at the IFHE 2022 Congress | CHES 2022 National Conference taking place September 17-21, 2022 in Toronto ON is now open.
CHES, together with the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, is encouraging all event participants to consider requesting exhibition space in the GREEN PARK.
A block of rooms is being held at The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto. To receive the conference rate, mention "Congress of the IFHE 2022" when making your reservation.
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RETScreen® is a Clean Energy Management Software system for energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration project feasibility analysis as well as ongoing energy performance analysis.
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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.
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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
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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. |
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