Core Action Strategies for Health Care Providers to Decrease Contributions to Climate Change
| Action | Resources for Getting Started |
| Provide colleagues, patients, clients, students and communities with information on the health effects related to climate change and how they can reduce greenhouse gases. | Health Effects of Climate Change Educate Your Clients and Yourself Educate Students NIOSH Occupational exposure to heat stress in the workplace EPA Health and Environment Effects WHO Climate Change and Health American Journal of Preventive Medicine (AJPM) podcasts Free full text articles from the AJPM November 2008 Special Issue on Climate Change and the Health of the Public |
| Form or join a "Green Team" to develop strategies and policies that will decrease waste and conserve energy and water at your workplace. | Learn what a green team is and how to form one at: Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (pdf) |
| Implement "Green" Practices into your facility | “How To" guides: Healthcare Without Harm Practice Greenhealth Green Guide for Health Care Toxics Use Reduction Institute |
| Hold "Green" meetings and conferences. | American Nurses Association Green Meeting Guide |
| Do a waste audit at your facility to find opportunities for recycling. | A sample waste audit tool: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection |
| Do an energy audit at your facility to find ways in which to conserve energy. | Join Energy Star A sample energy audit tool: University of Colorado Learn how to reduce energy consumption in the workplace: US Environmental Protection Agency |
| Ensure that your facility has a reliable emergency preparedness plan. | A sample plan: US Department of Health and Human Services (pdf) Emergency Preparedness |
