Health Care Without Harm heads to the Global Climate Action Summit

Global Climate Action Summit


Health care sector’s climate efforts elevated at global summit

Leaders and concerned citizens from around the world will convene in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit Sept. 12-14. Together, they’ll celebrate the extraordinary climate action of states, regions, cities, businesses, health care, and civil groups, all while calling on each other and national governments to step up their efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Health Care Without Harm is responding to the Summit’s call to action “to take ambition to the next level” – in multiple ways.

News and updates will be posted on this page leading up to, during, and after the Summit, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly. 


GCAS News


Health care sector commits to 100% clean electricity at the Global Climate Action SummitBetter Aparna GCAS_thumbnail

[September 13] Health care has responded to the Global Climate Action Summit’s call to “take ambition to the next level” by committing to power 1,200 health facilities with 100 percent renewable electricity.

Join us


Hospitals join and sectors unite on food-climate action with new platformCool Food Pledge thumbnail

[September 13] The University of California health system along with a group of dining providers serving 60 million meals annually have joined a cross-sector pledge to serve delicious food while slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

Serving up change


Health care leaders unveil climate commitments, global call to actioncall to action thumbnail

[September 12] Leading health care systems and health organizations from around the world have announced commitments to protect human health from climate change.

Call to action


A pediatrician's perspective on climate change: From impacts to imperativePediatrician thumbnail_Naval Surface Warriors

[September 12] Rebecca Pass Philipsborn, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Global Health Institute details projected climate-health impacts on children conveying a clear message: this is not a political discussion but a choice about the future of our planet for our children.

Protecting children


Healing health care to heal the planetGCAS Gary thumbnail

[September 12] Gary Cohen, Health Care Without Harm president and co-founder shares how the global community of health professionals and health organizations can come together around a collective vision: healthy people living in sustainable and equitable communities on a thriving planet.

Healthy planet


Health Care Without Harm brings together world leaders to foster climate goal collaborationHealth leaders

[September 11] Health care leaders from around the world met with representatives from government, international agencies, and the nonprofit sector to collaborate on climate goals at Health Care Without Harm’s Global Roundtable.

Leaders' roundtable


Food leaders are de facto climate leaders: Let’s tell the worldGlobal Climate Action Summit

[September 5] With new opportunities at the intersection of food and climate, there has never been a better time to celebrate your facility’s accomplishments and take your food-climate commitments to the next level.

Food and GCAS


UC Health commits to 100% clean energy by 2025University of California Health

[September 4] The University of California (UC) announced a bold expansion of its systemwide sustainability goals as part of its Carbon Neutrality Initiative and leadership on climate change efforts. UC will aim for 100 percent reliance on clean electricity supplies across its campuses and UC Health’s medical centers by 2025.

The road to 100


Global Climate and Health ForumGlobal Climate and Health Forum

[September 3] Health Care Without Harm is co-hosting the Global Climate and Health Forum, an official affiliate event of the Global Climate Action Summit, on Sept. 12, bringing together 250 global leaders for a special event you can livestream from anywhere in the world.

Get the full details


Health Care Without Harm takes the stageGlobal Climate Action Summit

[September 2] We are honored that Health Care Without Harm president and co-founder Gary Cohen has been invited by California Gov. Jerry Brown to speak at the Global Climate Action Summit Sept. 14, as well as two Health Care Without Harm board members.

What they have to say


Health Care Without Harm’s Global RoundtableGlobal Climate Action Summit

[September 1] In collaboration with the Under 2 coalition, Health Care Without Harm is convening a Global Roundtable on Sept 11. The roundtable will host a strategic discussion between a small group of health care leaders from Health Care Without Harm’s global network.

Collaboration for climate goals


Leading health systems form alliance to address climate change in CaliforniaCalifornia

[August 22] Amid deadly fires and record-breaking heat waves in California, four of the state’s largest health systems – Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, Providence St. Joseph Health, and Sutter Health – have formed the California Health Care Climate Alliance.

Leading by example