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As we begin a new year, we want to pause and say thank you.
Looking back on the past 12 months, we’re proud of the momentum we’ve built together toward a more sustainable, climate-resilient health care system. From launching new initiatives to strengthening partnerships and creating spaces for learning and action across the sector, this progress was only possible because of the engagement, expertise, and commitment of our community.
To our members, partners, speakers, volunteers, funders, and supporters—thank you. Your continued support and leadership are what drive meaningful climate action in health care.
We invite you to explore our Year in Review, which highlights some of the key accomplishments you helped make possible.
As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to build on this progress. If you’re able, please consider making a donation to our 25th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign.
Thank you for being part of this journey—we’re excited for what’s ahead.
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PEACH Health Ontario Conference 2026
Date: May 21, 2026
Time: 8AM - 6PM
Location: David Braley Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, ON
Join us for the second PEACH Health Conference this spring - an exciting in-person event where you can connect with and learn from experts in sustainability, planetary health, family medicine, and knowledge translation.
Learn how climate change is transforming health care delivery, and how human stories can drive cultural and structural change within the system. Don’t miss this opportunity to network, learn, and grow with students and professionals in the field!
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Interregional forum for sustainable health care
Date: April 30, 206
Location: CHUM | Pierre-Péladeau Auditorium, Montreal, QC
True to its mission, Synergie Santé Environnement (SSE) is once again organising a major event in 2026 to address environmental health, bringing together health and social services professionals around best practices and latest innovations in environmental health and sustainable development.
Some of the themes that will be explored in April 2026: responsible procurement and innovation, climate change adaptation, life cycle analysis, health prevention, GHG emissions reduction and more!
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Webinar - Data Visualization for Action: Driving Health Care Decarbonisation
Have you ever presented compelling data, only to see little or no action follow? In health care decarbonisation, even strong evidence can fail to influence decision-makers when it isn’t communicated clearly or effectively.
This webinar will explore how data visualization and storytelling can cut through complexity, clarify insights, and support better operational and strategic decisions. Join the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care to learn how to turn data into visuals that inform, persuade, and drive action on health care decarbonisation.
Delivered as part of the Coalition’s Preparing Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, made possible with an investment from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund.
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Media Release - Coalition Launches Nix the Nitrous Resources and National Recognition Program
In 2025 the Coalition released a suite of resources under Nix the Nitrous - an initiative committed to supporting health care organisations to reduce emissions by addressing nitrous oxide (N₂O), one of the most potent greenhouse gases used in clinical settings.
To complement these practical resources, the Coalition is launching the Nix the Nitrous Recognition Program, a national initiative that celebrates health care facilities committing to the decommissioning of centralized nitrous oxide systems as part of their decarbonization efforts.
Facilities at any stage of the journey—from early planning, to partial decommissioning, to full system removal—are encouraged to participate by completing a short survey.
| | Webinar Recordings - Plastic Reduction Week | | | |
Plastics Reduction Week brought together health care leaders, practitioners, and sustainability champions for a week of learning and collaboration through CCGHC’s Circular Clinical Care: Single-Use Plastics Reduction Project.
Across five themed sessions—Opportunities, Food-Related Services, Textiles, Packaging, and Perioperative Care—the Circular Clinical Care team shared insights and early learnings from the project’s first 12 months, highlighting practical pathways to reduce single-use plastics in health care settings.
Missed a session or want to revisit the discussions?
All webinar recordings are now available to watch on demand.
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Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award
Canadian College of Health Leaders
This award recognizes a progressive health care organisation that has implemented organisational wide initiatives demonstrating environmental responsibility through the reduction of energy usage, the preservation of natural resources and effective waste diversion solutions. Possible initiatives include the implementation of energy efficient building systems and solutions, comprehensive energy and environmental awareness programs, waste management initiatives, and green procurement practices.
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From Data to Action: Measuring Health System Emissions
ATACH
Date: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM CET (French translation available)
This technical meeting will introduce the new guidance on measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in health systems. The meeting will feature insights from co-authors of the guidance, country experiences in measuring GHG emissions and an interactive discussion on challenges, opportunities, and next steps for the ATACH community.
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Plant-based Starter Guide
Plant-Based Canada
Simple tool. Big impact. Transformation —
one plate at a time!
Designed for everyone, everyday – Plant-Based Canada’s new Starter Guide offers clear, practical steps to eat well, eat easily, and eat with purpose. From core nutrition questions to easy meal planning, it's a practical tool for sustainable change – for you and the planet.
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Prescribing Sustainability
Plant-Based Canada Podcast
In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, Amy Ford discusses sustainable food systems and planetary health in our hospitals and health care settings.
Amy Ford is the Director of Planetary Health at Nourish Leadership. She is a self-proclaimed intentional synergy seeker, with a career focused in sustainable in-patient food services.
| | Four pillars of Sustainable Food Services: A Practical Approach for Health Care Leadership | | | |
The phrase ‘food is medicine’ has long been used to describe the numerous health benefits conferred by dietary modifications such as the well-known Mediterranean diet, which has been demonstrated to have cardiovascular benefits.
Further research has specifically examined the effects of plant-based diets on human health, with similar findings suggesting a reduction of cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even total mortality.
Accordingly, the newest edition of Canada’s Food Guide heavily emphasises adoption of plant-based diets. Yet, we are now beginning to understand that the phrase ‘food is medicine’ may apply to our planet just as much as it does to human health.
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CMH Achieves Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital Quality Improvement Status
Choosing Wisely Canada
Cambridge Memorial Hospital earned Choosing Wisely Canada Hospital Quality Improvement Status, highlighting its commitment to safer, evidence-based care and reducing unnecessary tests, treatments, and waste. This followed achievements in blood and lab stewardship and removing high-emission anesthetic desflurane, reflecting continuous improvement across departments.
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It’s reset time: 10 design principles for a warming world
Medium
The article argues sustainability efforts are failing and calls for a “reset” through ten design principles that blend radical ambition with practical action.
These principles prioritize impactful change, sufficiency over efficiency, systems thinking, cultural engagement, agency, careful use of technology, strategic system “hacks,” broad adoption, and integrated resilience in a warming world.
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Kidney Care Susnet Meeting: Sustainability in Kidney Care - The Canadian Experience
Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Date: Januaury 22nd, 2026
Time: 9:00am-10:00am ET
Join CSH's Kidney Care Sustainability network for their monthly event.
About the speaker: Dr Tamara Glavinovic – Nephrologist, University of Ottawa
Dr Glavinovic is a nephrologist with a clinical focus on reproductive health in kidney disease and quality improvement. She is Vice Chair of the Canadian Society of Nephrology Sustainable Nephrology Committee and works closely with the International Society of Nephrology on educational resources in obstetric nephrology. Her work spans clinical care, education, and system-level sustainability.
About the session:
Expect insights into how sustainability principles are being embedded into kidney care in Canada, with reflections relevant to UK, EU and wider international practice.
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CHES 2026 Webinar Series
CHES
Eight great new webinars coming in 2026. These webinars are free when you login as a CHES Members. Non-members can access webinars for a nominal fee.
- January 28, 2026 - Improving the Sustainability of Healthcare Humidification Systems
- February 18, 2026 - Preventive Maintenance vs. Predictive Maintenance - Pros and Cons
- March 18, 2026 - IPAC in Construction for LTC: Maneuvering the Complex Environment of LTC
- April 22, 2026 - Energy and Sustainability
- May 20, 2026 - Building Envelope: Maintenance and Upkeep Best Practices
- June 17, 2026 - The Resilient Hospital: Future-Proofing Critical Healthcare Systems
- October 21, 2026 - Time for an Air Change; Advancing Demand-Controlled Displacement Ventilation
- November 18, 2026 - Reusables in Healthcare: Cutting Waste, Costs and Carbon Footprints
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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.
| | 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. | | | | |
