The Health Care Climate Council, representing 17 leading health systems across the United States committed to addressing the health impacts of climate change, is disappointed that the Supreme Court has issued a stay on the Clean Power Plan, effectively putting a hold on improving the health of our communities.

Actions that reduce emissions—like the EPA’s Clean Power Plan—can help the world avert serious problems that harm communities nationwide. The Clean Power Plan will cut hundreds of millions of tons of carbon pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful particulate pollution, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. Together, these reductions will help save up to 3,600 premature deaths per year and provide important health protections to communities disproportionately impacted by unsafe air and water.

"Climate change will be the defining issue for health systems in the 21st century," said Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization. "Health professionals have the knowledge, cultural authority, and responsibility to protect health from climate change.

As a leadership body of health systems representing more than 400 hospitals and 82,000 patients beds, the Health Care Climate Council will continue to reduce our climate impacts, move toward renewable energy sources, and support the goals of the Clean Power Plan, which include protecting public health and the environment, reducing carbon pollution 32% below 2005 levels by 2030, and generating electricity from cleaner sources.

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About the Health Care Climate Council

Established by Health Care Without Harm, the Health Care Climate Council is a leadership network of hospitals committed to strengthening the health sector’s response to climate change.