Environmental Sustainability Strategy

This engagement closed on February 17, 2025. We are reviewing feedback and preparing a "What We Heard" report.

Climate change is one of the biggest health threats of the 21st century (WHO, 2024). The effects of climate change are already being observed in our province and are expected to increase (Health Accord, 2024). From wildfires and severe storms to flooding, coastal erosion, reduced sea ice and changing temperatures, climate change affects health and well-being. Health systems are also significant contributors to climate change; healthcare in Canada emits 4.6% of all national greenhouse gas emissions. Care delivery relies on energy consumption, transportation, and many products with an environmental footprint. Health Accord NL calls for a proactive approach to address climate change. 

NL Health Services is creating an Environmental Sustainability Strategy as outlined in our strategic plan for 2024-2026. The goal of the strategy is to  reduce our environmental footprint and help us to become a leader amongst Canadian healthcare systems in climate culture and environmental stewardship. As we develop our plan, we want to hear from you!

 

Climate Change Poll

Here are the results of our climate change poll:

  • Are you worried about climate change? 91% said yes, they are worried about climate change.
  • 77% of respondents said that they, someone they know, or their community has been affected by climate change; 11% said no, and 11% were unsure.
  • Only 6% of respondents did not know that climate change affects your health and wellbeing.

Engagement Opportunities

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Definitions

Adaptation

Adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.rd and the likelihood of its occurrence.

Climate Resilient Health Systems

Climate resilient health systems are those capable of anticipating, responding to, coping with, recovering from, and adapting to climate-related shocks and stress, to bring about sustained improvements in population health, despite an unstable climate.

Hazard

Hazard is the potential occurrence of a natural or human-induced physical event or trend that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, service provision, ecosystems, and environmental resources.

Impacts

Impacts are the consequences of realized risks on natural and human systems, where risks result from the interactions of climate-related hazards (including extreme weather and climate events), exposure, and vulnerability. Impacts generally refer to effects on lives, livelihoods, health and well-being, ecosystems and species, economic, social and cultural assets, services (including ecosystem services), and infrastructure. Impacts may be referred to as consequences or outcomes and can be adverse or beneficial.

Low Carbon Health Systems

Low carbon health systems are those capable of implementing transformative strategies towards reducing GHG emissions in their operations, reducing short- and long-term negative impacts on the local and global environment.  

Mitigation

Climate change mitigation refers to any action taken by governments, businesses or people to reduce or prevent greenhouse gases, or to enhance carbon sinks that remove them from the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun in our planet’s atmosphere, keeping it warm.

Resilience

Resilience is the capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event, trend, or disturbance by responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential function, identity, and structure while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning, and transformation.

Risk

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences where something of value is at stake and where the occurrence and degree of an outcome is uncertain. Risk results from the interaction of vulnerability (of the affected system), its exposure over time (to the hazard), as well as the (climate-related) hazard and the likelihood of its occurrence. 

Important Links

Read these important reference documents to learn more: