About Additional Priority Areas
Creating sustainable, resilient, and equitable health systems requires action across a broad range of interconnected priorities. The resources in this section explore additional areas where healthcare organizations can improve health outcomes while reducing environmental impacts and strengthening system performance. Topics include the role of healthcare organizations as Anchor Institutions, the importance of delivering appropriate and evidence-based care, building climate resilience, and supporting effective chronic disease management. Resources also highlight health-promoting healthcare approaches that embed wellbeing into organizational practices, the influence of food systems on human and planetary health, and the critical role of population health and public health in advancing climate adaptation and health equity. Together, these priority areas demonstrate how healthcare organizations can address the social and environmental determinants of health, reduce waste and resource use, and improve community wellbeing. By integrating these approaches into planning and practice, health systems can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Implementation Resources for Additional priority areas
Webinars
Preparing for Climate Change at Health Care Facilities: Extreme Heat
This webinar examines how climate change has led to an increased frequency and intensity of extreme heat and heatwaves. It explains how prolonged periods of extreme heat impose cumulative stress on the human body, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities. It also discusses how these elevated health risks place additional demands on healthcare systems and how healthcare facilities must ensure the safety of both patients and staff by managing indoor temperatures and reducing heat exposure. The video features the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, PEACH Health Ontario, and CASCADES welcoming Dr. Myles Sergeant, who discusses the impacts of heat on health; Dr. Anna Gunz, who explains how clinics can prepare for extreme heat events; and expert Ron Drummond, who shares preventative maintenance strategies to help reduce the impacts of heat in healthcare facilities.
Preparing for Climate Change at Health Care Facilities: Air quality and Smoke Management
This webinar explores how poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke poses major health risks for individuals and communities. It explains that, with climate-related emergencies expected to worsen in the coming years, health care facilities will need to act quickly to disaster-proof life-saving infrastructure in order to protect vulnerable patients and the health care workforce. It highlights how smoke-related challenges often require essential structural and ventilation interventions. The video features the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, PEACH Health Ontario, and CASCADES hosting a webinar with Dr. Courtney Howard, who discusses the health impacts of smoke, and Abdel Darwich, who outlines strategies for smoke management in health care settings.
Preparing for Climate Change at Health Care Facilities: Wildfires and Smoke
This webinar examines how wildfires threaten both the health of Canadians and the ability of health care facilities to provide care. It notes that last year’s wildfire season was the worst in Canadian history due to high drought conditions, low moisture levels, and high temperatures. The webinar explores how Interior Health in British Columbia dealt with wildfires and smoke during the previous season, what resiliency and adaptation planning they have implemented and are considering, and how Emergency Management teams coped on the ground. It highlights lessons learned that can help guide other health care organizations in preparing for future wildfires and smoke events.
Mitigation and Resilience: Hospitals taking climate action
This webinar explores how approximately 5% of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada come from the health care system and how climate change and extreme weather events are increasing the need for low-carbon, climate-resilient health care facilities. It features representatives from Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), CISSS of Laval, Synergie Santé Environnement (SSE), and the New St. Paul’s Hospital Project in Vancouver, who share strategies for emissions reduction, sustainability planning, and designing climate-resilient health infrastructure.
Canada’s COP26 Health Programme Commitment – Adaptation and Resilience
This webinar explains that Canada had signed onto the World Health Organization COP26 Health Programme, formally committing to climate-resilient, low-carbon sustainable health systems.