A crucial building block in climate protection • Washington State Standard

Washington’s climate is changing—and it’s threatening the health of our most vulnerable populations. From heat waves and droughts to wildfires and floods, extreme weather is becoming the new normal. Unfortunately, the climate crisis is discriminating, contributing to a rise in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heat-related deaths, and other illnesses that disproportionately affect communities of color, children, and the elderly.

Many health systems across the state, including Providence, are taking steps to curb this deadly trend. That’s because we in the health care industry know we are part of the problem. Health care in the United States is responsible for 8.5% of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. In our health care system, we take that responsibility incredibly seriously and are actively working to reduce emissions to slow the rate of warming.

At the same time, we must fight for health equity in an era of climate change. Health is a human right and everyone deserves the chance to live the healthiest life possible. Yet systemic factors make marginalized communities more vulnerable to health problems caused by a warming planet, from chronic diseases due to wildfire smoke and pollution to heat stroke and deaths from excessive temperatures. The climate crisis is contributing to a state of inequality, just as historical discriminatory practices in housing, health care, employment and education have done.

Health institutions have a unique role to play in addressing the intersection of health equity and the climate crisis.

First, hospitals serving thousands of patients every day across the state produce enormous amounts of greenhouse gases—everything from nitrous oxide to food waste—so many of us have taken steps to reduce our impact.

Second, health organizations can proactively ensure they are available to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change before the next extreme weather event, provide services and care during such events, and help communities recover and heal afterward.

Third, health professionals can provide evidence-based information about the risks of heat, smoke, mold, pollen, and other realities of a warming earth. Health educators can also teach individuals and groups how to protect themselves before, during, and after extreme weather events.

Ultimately, all health organizations and professionals must learn how to make their communities safer in our warming world by understanding the health implications: teaching patients and families how to protect themselves, reducing health care pollution, and partnering with experienced health and justice groups who can teach us more about it.

Hospitals are very complex buildings and systems. If hospitals can effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, arguably any business, agency or organization can too. It can be daunting to start with, but there are practical and cost-effective steps you can take, such as using resources more efficiently, controlling wasteful purchasing and consumption of supplies, and switching to less environmentally harmful medicines, products and cleaning supplies when possible.

Even organizations in rural communities, including the rural hospitals that serve 70% of Washington State, can take small but important steps to reduce greenhouse gases while saving money and improving the health of their communities.

It is said that climate change is the greatest health crisis the world has ever seen, but also the greatest opportunity to ensure equitable, safe, fair and affordable health care. In Washington state, that is our core focus – by looking at the climate crisis not just as an environmental issue, but as a health equity issue, we can solve several enormous challenges at once.

That’s why Providence believes we should share our learnings through our Center for Environmental Stewardship and at national events like the Bloomberg Green Festival taking place this week in Seattle. Anyone can do this, but we need every leader and organization in our state to insist on equity and justice as key factors in their solutions to climate change.