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Coming Soon - 2026 Climate Action Program
The Climate Action Program is a new initiative from Accreditation Canada, developed in partnership with CCGHC, that guides organizations in driving meaningful change.
Through a step-by-step framework aligned with national standards and Required Safety Practices, the program helps organizations set priorities, measure annual progress, and turn incremental changes into lasting impact. Participants can also benchmark their performance against similar Canadian initiatives and share their successes with the broader community.
The program currently consists of three interconnected pieces:
- Climate Action Maturity Assessment
- Climate Action Innovation Awards
- Climate Action Performance and Improvement Workshop
Stay tuned for the official launch coming soon!
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2026 Cohort Info Session - Decarbonization in Action
Thank you to everyone who joined the Decarbonization in Action info session.
If you were unable to join the session, you can now view the webinar recording and presentation slides.
Key takeaways from the session:
- Free program offering strategic and financial value to hospitals and health systems
- Supports sustainability champions through technical expertise, peer learning network and implementation resources
- Three flexible participation levels with varying time commitments
Next Steps:
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Ontario organizations: Contact the team to receive the Terms of Reference and join the 2026 cohort
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Outside Ontario: Contact the team to join as an observer and participate in future project meetings
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Funding for Student-Led Educational Activities on Medication Safety
Looking to raise awareness of the risks of polypharmacy and promote deprescribing among your peers? The Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network is offering up to $500 to bring your activity to life during the upcoming academic year!
Who can apply: Undergraduate and post-graduate students enrolled in Canadian medicine, pharmacy or nursing programs during the 2026–2027 academic year
Deadline: September 30th, 2026
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Call for event proposals at the COP31 Health Pavilion
For the sixth time, WHO and Wellcome Trust are hosting a dedicated Health Pavilion at COP. You may express your interest in hosting an event at the COP31 Health Pavilion by filling out the form linked below. More information on the key design principles and selection criteria can be found here.
Side events at the COP31 Health Pavilion will showcase the health arguments for ambitious climate action across many different sectors and topics.
Deadline for submitting proposals: September 12th, 2026
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CAPhE Opportunities
The Canadian Association of Pharmacy for the Environment (CAPhE) is seeking a motivated individual to fill the role of Co-Chair.
To apply, please complete the following form and indicate Co-Chair as your position of interest: CAPhE Co-Chair Call for Interest.
If you're looking to volunteer with CAPhE in a different capacity - their Research team and Communications Committee are both expanding and accepting new team members! Contact info@caphe.ca or fill out the Call for Interest form to apply.
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Helping People Breathe Easier in a Changing Climate
Hospital Press
In response to the growing challenges from climate change, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) researchers conducted a quality improvement project to develop a Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat Action Plan.
Project lead Dr. Emily Brigham’s goal was to give people the tools and knowledge needed to protect themselves in extreme heat events. The team also created a provider guide with evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians.
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Beyond Climate Anxiety: Heat's Silent Developmental Toll on Children
Canada's National Observer
Heat waves and wildfire smoke are having significant and largely overlooked impacts on the foundations of learning and development.
As we grapple with increasingly common heat waves and air quality alerts, kids are struggling to learn in schools lacking air conditioning and sports practices are being cancelled because of smoke, a largely invisible threat that sits in the shadows: The direct impacts of climate hazards on the developing brain.
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What Does a Sustainable Hospital Look Like? Patient Perspectives on Waste, Reuse, and Information
Cambridge University Press
This study explores patient perspectives on hospital sustainability initiatives. Building on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, interviews with patients reveal support for sustainability such as the use of reusable medical textiles, provided safety and quality are maintained. Patients view sustainability as a hospital responsibility, but value integrating sustainability communication into patient journeys.
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Eight Ways General Internists Can Practice High-Value, Low-Carbon Care
National Library of Medicine
This position paper describes eight new climate focused Canadian Society of Internal Medicine (CSIM)—Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) recommendations to help internists stop or reduce tests, treatments, and procedures that do not benefit patients and harm the environment.
| | Podcast Episode: How Thoughtful Disruptors Are Changing Healthcare | |
In this episode, host Sue Owen speaks with Dr. Bhavini Gohel, a hospitalist physician, global health leader, and climate and health strategist with Alberta Health Services.
Together, Sue and Bhavini explore what it means to lead in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. They discuss the importance of challenging the status quo, embracing collaborative and adaptive leadership, and recognizing the deep connections between healthcare, climate, and public policy.
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How the Carbon Footprint of Medications Can Be Integrated Into Our Prescriptions
Kidney International
The availability of two databases that provide carbon footprint data for medications now makes it possible to establish the principles of ecoprescription.
Ecoprescription means prescribing a medication or a care that has a lower environmental impact while ensuring similar quality and security for the patient. This editorial explores that potential and provides examples using antihypertensive drugs commonly prescribed in nephrology.
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Polypharmacy Tools
Canada's Drug Agency
Polypharmacy—taking five or more medications—is common among older Canadians and can increase the risk of adverse drug events, falls, and other complications.
To support safer medication use, The Institute for Safer Medication Practices Canada and deprescribing.org developed evidence-based resources: 5 Questions to Ask About My Multiple Medications for patients and 5 Tips to Manage Polypharmacy for primary care providers. These tools promote shared decision-making and appropriate prescribing.
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What Hospital Food Means for the Climate
Centre for Planetary Health & Sustainable Care
This research project estimates the greenhouse gas emissions associated with hospital patient diets in Nova Scotia and evaluates opportunities to reduce emissions through lower-carbon and plant-forward menus.
By assessing the climate impacts of food served in healthcare settings, the project aims to identify practical strategies that can lower emissions while maintaining nutritional quality, helping hospitals make food services more sustainable and aligned with climate goals.
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Building a 2035 Roadmap: Expanding the Scope of Food Procurement Targets
Coolfood
When Coolfood was launched in 2019, it was the first initiative to set a target for food-related GHG emissions, setting a 2030 target against a 2015 baseline. With 2030 less than five years away, Coolfood updated their targets to align with the latest research on emissions reduction pathways and target setting guidelines.
The new targets call for a 30% reduction in absolute GHG emissions and a 40% reduction in relative emissions per calorie by 2035, relative to a 2025 baseline.
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CHEO Completes Major Energy Retrofit
REMI Network
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) completed major energy and air-quality upgrades as part of its 10-year campus redevelopment plan.
The federal government contributed $1 million through Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund to modernize CHEO’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and introduce new energy-saving technology. The upgrades improve indoor air quality for patients, families, and staff, as well as better cooling for the warmer months, while reducing the hospital’s environmental footprint.
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Sustainability as a Baseline in Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare Facilities Today
Sustainability is no longer just an option in healthcare facilities. Rising expectations from patients, staff and regulators, coupled with financial and climate pressures, are pushing hospitals to embed sustainable practices into every stage of planning and design.
Healthcare Facilities Today recently spoke with Christy Lindsey, global head of healthcare advisory at consulting firm SJ, about ways health systems can balance costs, build resilience and learn from global best practices.
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University of Waterloo: Sustainability Integration Conference 2026
Date: October 8, 2026
Location: University of Waterloo, ON
The Hub is bringing together industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers for a one-day conference focused on turning sustainability ideas into real-world action.
Sessions cover sustainability in a shifting global landscape, bridging corporate and academic worlds, Waterloo's innovation ecosystem, and scaling sustainability ventures. The day closes with a special performance from improv icons Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath. If your organization is trying to figure out where to start on sustainability, this is the room to be in.
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Hospital Recommissioning Results, Savings, and Clinical Engagement
Date: August 19, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET
Location: Online
The session will focus on how projects moved from study to execution, business case development, and ways that clinical engagement supported successful implementation.
Practical insights will be provided on overcoming barriers and maintaining savings over time.
Results from hospitals that implemented recommissioning measures such as ventilation scheduling, thermal wheel optimization, variable frequency drive integration, and plant control adjustments.
| | CHES 2026 National Conference | | |
Date: September 20-22, 2026
Location: St. John’s Convention Centre, St. John’s, NL
The CHES 2026 National Conference brings together health care engineers, facility managers, and industry experts for two days of learning, networking, and innovation.
Why Attend?
Expert Insights: Hear from leading voices in health care engineering and technology. This year they are adding a third concurrent session on both days!
Hands-On Learning: Participate in workshops and technical sessions designed to solve real-world challenges.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, vendors, and thought leaders shaping the industry. Fantastic and fun events!
Two great keynotes: Great beginning and ending! Brad Gushue and Ross Bernstein.
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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. | | | | |
