In honor of the upcoming Feast of St. Francis on October 4, the Catholic Health Association (CHA) reflects on our members' commitment to environmental stewardship. St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love of creation, called for a deep respect for nature and all living things. His example challenges us to see the environment as a shared home and gift from God, deserving of care and protection. His feast day serves as a timely reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet and promote sustainability, echoing the values at the heart of our Catholic health ministry.
Catholic health care is guided by a commitment to uphold the dignity of every human being and recognizes the interconnectedness of health, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Our belief in integral ecology, which emphasizes that health, humanity, and nature are inseparable, is reflected in our responsibility to protect the environment as a common good that is vital to the health and well-being of all. Thus, caring for creation is a vital extension of our mission to provide healing and support to those who seek care in our facilities.
CHA firmly believes the challenges posed by climate change require a united response from the health care sector, particularly within Catholic health ministries committed to being stewards of the environment and improving community health. By harnessing the opportunities provided by government programs, working in partnerships with like-minded organizations and advocating for sustainability practices that promote equity and health, we can ensure that our health systems are not only resilient but also actively contribute to the healing of our planet. Together, we can fulfill our mission to protect both human health and the environment, promoting a healthier future for all.
CHA Member Highlights:
In 2021, the Vatican launched the Laudato Si' Action Platform, encouraging Catholic organizations to take decisive actions against the ecological crisis. U.S. Catholic health systems have responded to Pope Francis' call to protect our planet. Our members are actively engaged in programs and initiatives aimed at addressing climate change and environmental degradation as a critical public health concern and promoting strategies for sustainable practices across healthcare facilities. Several U.S. Catholic health systems have also signed on to the United States Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Climate Change and Health Equity's voluntary Health Sector Climate Pledge, which asks participants to set carbon reduction goals and develop a climate resiliency plan that considers both operational and community needs.
The Environmental Impact and Sustainability Annual Report 2024 outlines their commitment to achieving sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint. Their efforts are rooted in Catholic social teaching which recognizes the human dignity of all people and the common good while striving towards equitable access to resources to improve community health and the lives of individuals served. Since setting goals for FY 2021 to 2023, Ascension reduced greenhouse gas emissions from acute care facilities by more than 9% and municipal solid waste to landfills by more than 5%. In its recently released Climate Resiliency Plan, Ascension announces plans to develop a project to predict asthma-related emergency department visits in vulnerable pediatric and adult patients by utilizing air pollution and weather impact data sources. This can help Ascension deploy resources to the right patients at the right time to prevent these visits.
In 2022, CommonSpirit Health established a climate action plan that includes a governance structure, clear accountability for major work streams, incentive structures, and integration with other organizational processes like budgeting. Under its climate-resilient communities pillar, CommonSpirit will integrate climate considerations into community health and clinical strategies, further establish community partnerships to strengthen local climate-resilient infrastructure and coordinated emergency responses. and continue to implement public policy and shareholder advocacy initiatives to advance health and environmental justice.
Providence sees a stable climate and healthy planet as crucial to reaching their vision of "Health for a Better World." Their climate action plan has main three main pillars: 1) mitigation of carbon emissions in five key areas - waste, energy and water, agriculture and food, chemicals and transportation; 2) adaptation and resilience that focuses on strengthening infrastructure, shifting clinical practice to respond to climate emergencies and supporting populations disproportionately impacted by climate change and 3) advocacy for a healthy climate by participating in influential leadership groups and sharing their knowledge with other health systems through resources like the Providence Center for Environmental Stewardship.
To Learn more about the Catholic health care response to the climate crisis, please register for Catholic Healthcare Sows Hope and Action for Creation, a Feast of St. Francis webinar presented by the Catholic Healthcare Association and the Catholic Climate Covenant on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 1:00 p.m. ET or visit our website at www.chausa.org/environment
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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.
- 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
- Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.