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Official Launch - Climate Action Program
On September 22, 2026, Accreditation Canada launched its new Climate Action Program, an initiative developed with the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care that supports health and social service organisations to advance climate action.
Through a step-by-step process that aligns with standards and Required Safety Practices, this program enables organisations to set priorities for action, measure success and progress year over year by making small changes with compounding impacts.
To enrol, purchase through the e-store or contact the Accreditation Canada sales team. Bundled purchasing options are available for organisations with multiple sites.
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New Toolkit - Sustainable Inhaler Guide for Nurses
Nurses are in a unique position to connect what happens at the bedside with the health of the planet.
As part of the Coalition’s Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, the Coalition, in collaboration with the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and the Canadian Association of Pharmacy for the Environment (CAPhE), has released a new Sustainable Inhaler Guide for Nurses.
This guide provides nurses with practical guidance for how to integrate environmental stewardship into respiratory care. It covers accurate diagnosis, device selection, shared decision-making, inhaler technique, teach-back, sustainable prescribing advocacy, and appropriate disposal and recycling.
| | International Nature Prescribing Alliance (INPA) | | | |
The Coalition is proud to support International Nature Prescribing Alliance (INPA) a new, physician-led organisation working to scale up the practice of nature prescribing worldwide.
Research indicates that people who are more connected to nature are more likely to protect it, and engage in other pro-environmental behaviours that support sustainability.
We look forward to sharing more about INPA's official launch at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia this October!
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Through Their Lens: The Impact of Climate Change on Older Adults' Mental Health
How does climate change affect the mental health and well-being of older adults?
Through Their Lens: The Impact of Climate Change on Older Adults' Mental Health invites audiences to explore this important question through a travelling photo exhibition.
Launching on October 1st for International Day of Older Persons, take part in a virtual webinar (12pm-1pm PT) or in-person panel discussion (5pm-6:30pm PT) in Victoria, BC to join the conversation on climate change and aging.
Visit the event page linked below or contact gero@nursing.ubc.ca for more info.
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Food is Medicine:
2026-27 Animated Learning Journey
Food Is Our Medicine brings together people as kin from across Canada to learn about Indigenous foodways, food as medicine, and pathways to Truth and Reconciliation through food and health care.
Journey through the seasons with six modules full of resources and reflection. There are two different learning paths: self-guided online learning and animated virtual learning circles.
The 2026-27 animated learning journey starts this September. Sign-up today and connect with your peers from coast to coast, and learn alongside Indigenous leaders and knowledge keepers.
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The Green Initiative Guided Leadership in Sustainability (GIGLS) is a clinician-led, 12‑month mentorship program that supports primary health care providers (PHCPs) in integrating environmentally sustainable practices aimed at improving patient outcomes into everyday clinical care.
The program pairs clinicians with experienced sustainability mentors and provides practical tools, peer support, and structured guidance to implement initiatives within primary care settings.
Led by the Hamilton Family Health Team Green Initiative, GIGLS addresses a critical gap in health care: translating existing knowledge into actionable, scalable change in primary care practice.
Information Session date: October 13th, 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm, EST
Location: Virtual
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Benefit of Physical Activity Initiatives for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Nature Health
This article introduces a “Physical Activity and Climate Change” framework showing how active transportation, walkable communities, green spaces, sport and health care interventions can reduce emissions while improving health and resilience.
The authors emphasize the need for systems-based, co-designed approaches that prioritize environmental sustainability, health equity and cultural relevance.
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Quebec Turns its Back on a Polluting Gas
The Press
Quebec is phasing out desflurane, a high-carbon anesthetic gas, from operating rooms as part of Santé Québec’s 2026–2028 Sustainable Development Action Plan.
With a warming potential 2,540 times that of CO₂, desflurane can be replaced by lower-impact alternatives such as sevoflurane.
The move builds on growing momentum among health care organisations to reduce the climate impact of anesthesia.
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The Expanding Role of Prescribers in Delivering a Greener NHS
Prescribing Practice
| This article explores the environmental impact of medicines across their life cycle and reviews the strategic, clinical and policy initiatives that support sustainable prescribing. It highlights the key principles of sustainable clinical practice, national programmes, antimicrobial stewardship, reducing inappropriate polypharmacy, low-carbon clinical alternatives, digital innovation and the growing importance of social prescribing and patient self-care. | | |
5 Questions to Ask About My Multiple Medications
ISMP Canada
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September is Healthy Aging Month!
Pharmacists play an important role in supporting healthy aging by helping older adults use medications safely, effectively, and appropriately.
This month, use the 5 Questions About My Multiple Medications Toolkit to start conversations about medication purpose, side effects, interactions, and whether each medication is still needed.
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An Indigenous Food is Medicine Intervention
JAMA International Medicine
In this recent randomized clinical trial from the Navajo Nation, the proportion of patients with a hospitalization or emergency department visit was significantly lower among those in the intervention compared with usual care.
The trial found that culturally and medically tailored meal programs can improve clinical outcomes for patients with heart failure and advance cardiovascular health.
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UBC Research Suggests Increasing Plant-Based Meals
Vancouver Sun
UBC researchers found that introducing more plant-based meals in B.C. hospitals can maintain patient satisfaction while significantly reducing food waste and greenhouse-gas emissions.
The study also found plant-based dishes were substantially less carbon-intensive than beef, poultry and fish. Researchers suggest expanding plant-forward options while preserving patient choice and nutritional needs.
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GHC Forum 2026 - Back to Basics: Building the Foundations for Climate Action
Date: November 6, 2026
Time: 8:00am - 6:00pm EST
Location: Westin Harbour Castle
Toronto, ON
Join hospitals, clinicians, utility companies, and industry leaders for a day of insight, strategy, and collaboration, focused on addressing barriers and taking action to lower hospital utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
This event will highlight successful projects, top-performing facilities, emerging policies, and the collaborative frameworks that make sustainable health care possible.
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Being Climate-Wise in Internal Medicine
Date: October 14, 2026
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
Location: Virtual
Internal medicine, with its significant resource utilization and activity volume, is one of the highest carbon-emitting specialties in health care delivery. How can we support environmentally sustainable solutions in these settings without compromising the complex demands of patient care?
Join Choosing Wisely Canada and the Canadian Medical Association for Climate Rounds where experts will discuss practical strategies and approaches for integrating climate-conscious recommendations in internal medicine settings.
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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. | | | | |
