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Low Carbon Energy Networking Hub
As part of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care's Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, the Low Carbon Energy Networking Hub aims to accelerate the adoption of low- and no-carbon energy solutions across Canada’s health care sector.
Join our monthly meetings, led by a Low Carbon Energy Advisor, to develop customized low-carbon energy plans for your facility. These sessions bring together health care professionals and experts to identify, prioritize, and implement low-carbon technologies and practices. You'll be supported to discern actions based on your particular facility’s context and organisational readiness for carbon reduction.
The first meeting will be held November 28th, 2024 at 9am PT/12pm ET. Sign up using the link below!
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Virtual Discussion Series: Advancing Sustainability in Health Care Supply Chains
Date: November 19th, 2024
Time: 9am PT/12pm ET
Join the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care for a dynamic, interactive virtual discussion series that connects health care professionals with supply chain partners to advance sustainability. This series offers a unique platform for health care personnel and vendors to exchange valuable feedback, fostering two-way communication that drives advancements in sustainable procurement and services.
In our first session, Quantum Lifecycle Partners will share their journey in sustainable IT asset management, from secure data destruction to refurbishment, resale, and recycling. After a brief presentation, join interactive breakout rooms for an open dialogue on IT asset disposition, managed ownership models, and collaborative sustainability.
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Welcome to our Advisors' Corner, where we explore what inspires our advisors to champion sustainability in health care. They share their insights on the most impactful changes the sector can make, as well as the barriers and opportunities on the path to a greener future.
Our next feature is Desmond Leddin. Desmond brings a wealth of expertise as a volunteer advisor on virtual conferences and sustainable transportation. A professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Desmond’s leadership extends globally—he serves as Co-Chair of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Climate Committee and recently stepped into the role of Chair for the Climate Committee at the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO). His dedication to merging health care with climate action makes him a pivotal figure in driving environmental sustainability within the medical field.
Click the link below to learn more about how sustainability in health care, as highlighted by Desmond, is driven by ethical responsibility of doctors to minimize harm, professional duties to lead by example, and the need to address environmental impacts for future generations. Discover the importance of engaging health care providers to drive systemic change, including adopting sustainable transportation and promoting virtual conferences to reduce carbon footprints, while tackling barriers like financial drivers and awareness gaps.
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Choosing Wisely Canada's National Meeting: Call for Content
Mark your calendars for Choosing Wisely Canada’s National Meeting on May 26-27 in Winnipeg, Manitoba! This two-day event held in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association will showcase innovative Choosing Wisely initiatives and approaches to reducing overuse. Here's how you can get involved:
- Submit an abstract on recent Choosing Wisely efforts
- Pitch a workshop or presentation
Submissions will be considered for concurrent breakout sessions. The call for content will accept submissions until December 6th, 2024.
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CHES - CALL for Submissions - Canadian Healthcare Facilities - Winter Issue
The Winter 2024/2025 issue of CHES's journal, Canadian Healthcare Facilities (CHF), is currently seeking article submissions on health care facility projects that broke ground or were completed this year, as well as topics related to security and life safety, and emergency preparedness and response.
If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact the journal's Editor, Clare Tattersall, at claret@mediaedge.ca with the proposed topic.
All topics must be pre-approved by the Editor prior to article submission. The deadline for final article submissions is Monday December 2nd, 202.
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Hamilton Health Sciences: a success story in sustainability
The Circular Future - A Quantum Lifecycle Partners Podcast
Listen to this episode of the Circular Future podcast to hear about Hamilton Health Sciences' journey to sustainability.
They have reduced their emissions by 49% since 2016 and have implemented various waste reduction programs. They have also digitized patient records, resulting in a 200 metric ton reduction in paper use. The hospital has faced challenges in allocating resources and evaluating the effectiveness of programs. Collaboration with stakeholders and fostering engagement and interest in sustainability initiatives have been key to their success.
The advice from the conversation is to invest in knowledge and literacy, do your part no matter how small, and prioritize quality over quantity.
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The 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: facing record-breaking threats from delayed action
The Lancet
The 2024 Lancet Countdown report highlights record-breaking climate-induced health threats, with indicators like heat exposure and drought reaching new highs. In 2023, people globally faced an extra 50 days of extreme heat, while severe drought increased food insecurity for 151 million more people.
Global temperatures neared 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, approaching the Paris target. The report calls for urgent action, redirecting fossil fuel investments into sustainable, health-supporting systems, to prevent catastrophic health outcomes and seize co-benefits like cleaner air and healthier diets.
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Protect us from toxic chemicals in plastics
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Many of the plastic products we use and wear everyday contain toxic chemicals. These toxic plastics are linked to devastating health harms such as breast cancer, brain damage, and kidney and liver diseases.
Right now, as countries prepare to negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty, Canada has the chance to make a difference. The federal government can regulate and eliminate some of the most toxic chemicals in plastics before the Treaty negotiations start, building global momentum to end two crises—plastic pollution and exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Urge the federal government to protect people in Canada—and especially children—from harmful chemicals in plastics, backed up by a strong Global Plastics Treaty.
By taking leadership, Canada can help get harmful plastics off the shelves and make the whole world less toxic.
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Atlantic study finds combustion school buses pose child health risks
Electric Autonomy
A recent report from Atlantic Canada highlights health risks for children exposed to emissions from combustion school buses, which often exceed Health Canada’s recommended CO2 limits. Atlantic Canada’s 3,900 buses expose around 215,000 children daily, leading to potential respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological issues. The report advocates for transitioning to electric buses, noting both environmental and public health benefits. While 129 electric buses currently operate in the region, only two provinces use them, emphasizing the need for increased government action to protect vulnerable populations.
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What to expect with Canadian EV rebates in 2025
Electric Autonomy
Changes are coming to Canada’s EV incentive programs, with several federal and provincial rebates set to expire or scale back in 2025. The federal iZEV program, offering $5,000 per vehicle, is set to expire by March 31, 2025. Quebec’s long-standing Roulez vert rebates are set to reduce yearly until ending in 2027.
British Columbia has narrowed eligibility, while Newfoundland and Labrador's program concludes in March 2025. These adjustments reflect a shift as governments feel the EV market is becoming more self-sustaining.
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Clinically fit space on the leasing agenda
The REMI Network
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The article discusses a growing trend in leasing medical office spaces that prioritize clinical functionality and wellness. These "clinically fit" spaces are tailored to support patient care with specialized infrastructure and flexible layouts, enhancing both patient and staff experiences.
Key considerations include air quality, lighting, and ease of navigation, with a focus on supporting new technologies and sustainable practices. This trend reflects the rising demand for medical facilities in accessible locations, particularly in areas close to residential neighborhoods, as health care delivery adapts to more community-centered care models.
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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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Planetary connection to CV health part 2: Practical sustainability tools to enhance patient care and planetary health
Date: November 13th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm PST/8:00pm EST
This webinar explores actionable sustainability practices that not only elevate patient care but also improve planetary health. Participants will gain insights into the health care system's environmental footprint and discover practical strategies for reducing waste in the medical clinic, cardiac intensive care unit/ward, operating rooms and interventional labs.
Our speakers will showcase leading initiatives from hospitals, organisations, and industry partners working toward a sustainable health care model. We’ll also explore ways to inspire and empower health care professionals to champion sustainability in their own practice and lead the charge toward a greener future. A live panel discussion will conclude the session, offering attendees a chance to engage with experts on effective tools and tactics for sustainable health care.
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Organisational strategic planning and roadmap development for sustainable health systems
CASCADES
Date: November 21st, 2024
Time: 9:00am PST/12:00 pm EST
Between 2023-2024, three British Columbia Health Authorities — Fraser Health, Interior Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health—developed Planetary Health organisational strategies, with the aim to guide and inform each organisation’s efforts and priorities in creating a climate-resilient, sustainable and low-carbon health system.
On November 21, CASCADES’ director Fiona Miller will host a discussion with Karen Reutlinger from Fraser Health, Amanda McKenzie and Kady Hunter from Interior Health, and Breanna Gregory from Vancouver Coastal Health, authors of a new CASCADES resource based on their health authorities’ experiences developing these organisational strategies. They will discuss governance and leadership, strategic alignment, measurement and overall learnings—key considerations for organisations undertaking similar efforts.
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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. | | | | |
