March 6th, 2025

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COALITION SPOTLIGHT

Article feature - Preparing Canada’s health care buildings for Net-Zero: A critical step toward sustainable health care

As featured in Hospital News, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care’s Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, supported by the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from hospitals and health care facilities through training, networking, and low-carbon solutions.

This initiative provides health care professionals with resources on emissions measurement, green team development, and sustainable alternatives to high-carbon medical practices, accelerating the sector’s transition to net-zero.

Coalition Project Feature -

Healthy Capital: Sustainable Investments for Hospital Foundations

The Healthy Capital project is helping hospital foundations integrate sustainable practices into their investment strategies, managing climate and financial risks while aligning with health-focused missions. Have you ever wondered…

• How is my hospital foundation managing climate and financial risks?
• Are its investments exposed to floods, fires, or other disruptions?
• Is there a plan to align investments with health and sustainability goals?

We’re here to assist hospital foundations navigate these challenges. Learn more and download our one-pager at the project webpage below.

Upcoming Webinars

Navigating Drug Shortages: Climate Resilience and Operational Innovation in Pharmacy

• Date: March 20th, 2025
• Time: 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET
• More details to come!
• Register HERE

Low Carbon Resilience Roadmapping

• Date: March 25th, 2025
• Time: 9:00AM PT/12:00PM ET
• Join the Coalition as we welcome Kori Jones from Vancouver Coastal Health and Ryan Galloway from Island Health to share two successful examples of a holistic and collaborative approach to Low Carbon Resilience Roadmapping.
• Register HERE

Missed one of our recent webinars? No problem! The Coalition posts all webinar recordings on our YouTube channel. Our latest webinars are now available:

Climate Proofing your Finances - Explore the powerful connection between your money and the climate. Watch the recording HERE.

Building a Low Carbon Energy Toolbox for your Health Care Facility - Discover practical strategies for advancing low-carbon energy solutions in health care facilities. Watch the recording HERE.

Seven Steps to Lower Carbon at your Health Care Facility - Learn about “The Seven Steps” is a time-tested framework. Watch the recording HERE.

Découvrez « Les sept étapes », un cadre éprouvé. Regardez l’enregistrement ICI.

Leadership Feature: June Kaminski

Welcome to our new series, where each newsletter will feature a key member of our leadership team! For this feature, meet June Kaminski.

"With the urgent need to decarbonize health care, I was thrilled to join the Coalition in 2024 as Project Coordinator for the Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-

Zero project. This three-year initiative aims to drive meaningful change in making health care infrastructure more sustainable. Collaborating with health experts, advocates, and professionals committed to planetary health has been both inspiring and motivating.

The Coalition serves as a dynamic hub, bringing together knowledge, action, and innovation to transform Canada’s health care system into one that prioritizes sustainability. Seeing this level of collaboration firsthand reinforces my belief in the power of collective action to create lasting impact.

With a background in nursing, I’m excited to work alongside professionals from diverse

roles across the health sector to integrate environmental stewardship into health care. I

encourage all health personnel to engage with the Coalition—whether by exploring our

resources, joining our networks, or supporting our initiatives—to help shape a more

sustainable future for health care in Canada." - June

Keep an eye out for our next feature!

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

Nominate your green health care behavioural program for landmark designation

Tools for Change

Tools of Change is soliciting nominations for its 2025 Landmark-designated behaviour change case studies in two topic areas – (1) climate change mitigation and adaptation, and (2) sustainable transportation. They will write the case studies for the designated programs. The deadline is June 7, 2025. They are also accepting nominations for (3) building energy conservation behavior change case studies, to be reviewed and designated in 2026.



If you know of a particularly effective or innovative approach for changing related behaviours, it can even be your program, please consider nominating it. All nominations must include measured impact results.

The nomination form must be submitted by Friday, June 7, 2025.

Western pacific climate and health responder course

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Date: March 11 - April 15, 2025 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

The Climate and Health Responder Course was developed through a partnership between the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), and regional partners, such as the University of Sydney, Lancet Countdown Oceania Regional Centre, Lancet Countdown Asia, Macquarie University, Monash University, University of Canberra, The University of New South Wales, Sunway University, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Planetary Health Philippines, Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, and HEAL Global Research Centre. By targeting health professionals, this course aims to address this critical need. 

Circular economy accelerator

Project Zero

This hands-on program is designed to help Vancouver Island businesses uncover cost-saving opportunities, streamline operations, and incorporate circular economy principles into their operations. In just 5-8 hours over an 8-week period, businesses will receive:

• A site visit and a personalized sustainability action plan
• Actionable and practical recommendations to reduce energy, water, waste, and emissions and associated costs
• Insights into innovative practices for boosting efficiency and revenue
• A clear roadmap with estimated costs, timelines, and recommendations for funding opportunities

Carbon calculator for USA veterinary clinics

Veterinary Sustainability Alliance

The US open-source Veterinary Carbon Calculator (V-CALC) helps veterinary clinics measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by providing detailed insights into Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Developed at Colorado State University, this tool follows EPA guidelines to identify emission hotspots, set reduction targets, and track progress toward sustainability goals.

This tool will empower your clinic to track progress and take meaningful steps toward sustainability. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the first wave of climate-conscious veterinary teams leading the way!

CLIMATE ACTION

Climate justice perspectives and experiences of nurses and their community partners

Nursing Inquire

This study explores how nurses and community-based organiations (CBOs) perceive and experience climate justice, highlighting its connection to structural injustices and health inequities. Using participatory photo mapping, participants from eight partnerships across six U.S. states emphasized the impacts of colonialism, corporate pollution, and state violence on public health, while framing climate justice as a long-term struggle to restore spiritual relationships with nature and foster community well-being.

Reducing health care waste by eliminating exam table paper in a primary care practice: A sustainable quality improvement initiative

BJM Journal

Eliminating exam table paper in a primary care clinic reduced costs, improved staff efficiency, and had positive environmental impacts with no negative consequences. This small change saved resources and motivated staff to adopt other sustainable practices. If implemented nationwide, it could lead to significant financial savings and a major reduction in waste and carbon emissions.

FACILITIES

Lean, green, and digital: One hospital’s approach to sustainability

Hospital News



Humber River Health (Humber) remains dedicated to reducing health care’s environmental impact while maintaining excellence in patient care. From the outset, when Humber was built, the hospital was designed with three core vision elements in mind: lean, green, and digital. This foundational approach ensures that sustainability is embedded in every aspect of operations. Through waste reduction, infrastructure efficiency, and green clinical practices, Humber continues to lead the way in environmentally responsible health care

Hospital as ‘climate bunker’: how one health facility is preparing for the future

CTV News

Vancouver’s new St. Paul’s Hospital, opening in 2027, is the first in Canada to prioritize climate resilience, incorporating sustainable design features such as improved insulation, flood protection, and high-efficiency air filtration.

While the project makes significant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, some experts argue that further measures, such as full electrification, should be prioritized to future-proof health care against climate and energy challenges.

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EVENTS

2025 BC Rural Health Conference

Date: June 6–8, 2025

Registration is now open for the 2025 BC Rural Health Conference, happening June 6–8, 2025, in Prince George, BC. This year’s event will feature a full day of hands-on workshops, rapid-fire lectures, and wellness activities, as well as opportunities to celebrate the BC Rural Health Awards and network with rural health care professionals.

Early bird registration ends April 15, 2025, and childcare spots are limited, so be sure to register early at the link below.

Webinar - Lighten Your Workload by Choosing Wisely

Choosing Wisely

Date: March 12th, 2025

Time: 9:00 am PST/ 12:00pm EST

Join Choosing Wisely for a discussion on strategies to ease workload burden.



Speakers will share practical approaches to streamline workflows and reduce unnecessary demands on providers, allowing them to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality care.

8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada

Canadian Institute

Date: June 19th – 20th, 2025

The 8th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Western Canada, will be held in Vancouver, offering an opportunity to network with industry leaders and explore strategies for health care infrastructure design and construction.

Attendees will examine procurement models, learn about evolving standards, and meet with key decision-makers to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge health care facility delivery.

Register now to save 10% with promo code: D10-999-CCGHC25.

PEACH Health Conference 2025

PEACH Health Ontario

Date: May 21st, 2025

Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Location: Royal Botanic Gardens Rock Garden, Hamilton, ON

Join PEACH Health Ontario for the first PEACH Health Conference 2025, an exciting in-person event where you can connect with and learn from experts in sustainability, Planetary Health, Family Medicine, and Knowledge Translation.

This year's theme is Environmental Sustainability in Primary Health Care. Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn, and grow with students and professionals in the field!

Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Hospital Pharmacies

CASCADES

Date: April 8th, 2025

Time: 9:00am PST/ 12:00pm EST

Are you looking for ideas, resources, and tools to help guide your hospital pharmacy sustainability journey?

Join CASCADES for a one-hour session to learn about what initiatives you can implement in your hospital pharmacy operations to help reduce health care’s impact on the environment as they launch CASCADES’ Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Hospital Pharmacy Playbook, created in partnership with the Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy (CSHP).

Seven organisational practices to advance strategic planning for sustainable health care

CASCADES

Practice 1: Engage board and senior leaders

Date: March 20th, 2025

Time: 9:00am PST/ 12:00pm EST

Leadership and good governance are needed to develop and deliver effective climate and sustainability strategy. Join CASCADES Director Fiona Miller in conversation with Penny Ballem, Chair of the Board of Vancouver Coastal Health, and Darcia Pope, Vice President, Strategy, Innovation & Planetary Health at Vancouver Coastal Health in this one-hour session for a discussion of implementation strategies and key priorities for transformative change.

CHES 2025 Webinar Series

Dates and Topics:

• March 19th, 2025 - Safety 101…According to the CSA Standards…You don’t know what you don’t know
• April 23rd, 2025 - Structural Upgrade of Pre-Code Hospital Building to Meet Modern Safety and Operational Standards
• May 21st, 2025 - CSA Z462 2024 Edition Significant Impacts for Hospitals
• June 18th, 2025 - Flooring & CSA Z8000 Canadian Health Care Facilities Planning, Design and Construction
• October 15th, 2025 - Infection Prevention and Control
• November 19th, 2025 - Improving Energy Efficiency While Saving Precious Real Estate and Reducing Operational Costs: How Wastewater Heat Recovery Helped Toronto Western Hospital Achieve All Three

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