Climate and Health: The Impact on Healthcare Systems

Healthcare systems face mounting pressure from climate change — from wildfire smoke disrupting HVAC systems to extreme heat increasing emergency department visits. Understanding these connections is the first step toward operational resilience.

The Climate-Health Nexus

Hospitals contribute approximately 8.5% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the same climate instability they contribute to directly threatens their ability to deliver care.

What Health Systems Can Do

Forward-thinking health systems are integrating climate data into their operational planning, connecting environmental metrics to patient outcomes and facility performance.