Our commitment to sustainability
Doctors of BC is dedicated to building a healthier future by embedding sustainability into every aspect of our work.
Strategic plan
As one of the three core principles of our strategic plan, sustainability is a guiding principle in everything we do. Doctors of BC considers the environmental impact of our work and the sustainability of our health care system.
Learn about our strategic plan
Policy position
In our policy statement on Climate Change and Human Health, Doctors of BC recognizes the significant impact climate change can have on human health and the need for everyone to work to reduce the rate at which climate change occurs. We recommend that health impact assessments be required in connection with all proposed projects and programs that have the potential to alter the environment to ensure mitigation of potential risks to human health.
To support mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the impact of climate change on human health, Doctors of BC commits to reducing our carbon footprint, supporting physicians to improve sustainability in their practices, and working with continuing medical organizations to promote emergency preparedness training for physicians.
How the health sector impacts climate change and planetary health
- Health care significantly contributes to climate change. Approximately 4.6% of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are from the health sector.
- Canada has the second highest per capita emissions of 37 health systems included in the 2022 Lancet countdown on health and climate change.
- Four fifths of the health sector’s carbon footprint comes from the upstream supply chain.
- A quarter of the Canadian health sector’s greenhouse gases are from medications.
- Disposable medical equipment use globally more than doubled between 2005 and 2020.
Planetary health is “the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends” (The Lancet, 2015).
How doctors are already supporting planetary health
Physicians are already positively contributing to planetary health in the way they care for their patients.
Doctors are reducing demand for health services through managing chronic disease and health promotion.
Doctors are matching health services to demand through medication reviews and shared decision making.
Doctors are reducing emissions through switching from metered dose to dry powder inhalers and promoting alternatives to desflurane.
Council on Health Promotion
The Council on Health Promotion directs the policy activities of Doctors of BC concerned with health promotion and illness/injury prevention, this includes advocating for sustainability in health care as outlined in the Climate Change and Human Health policy statement.
The BC Medical Journal features bi-monthly articles by Council on Health Promotion members, the ones on climate change are listed below.
- Climate change and mental health: A critical intersection
- Unhealthy, unnatural gas
- Practising environmentally sustainable health care every day
- The impacts of flooding on health
Note: These articles are the opinion of the authors and not necessarily the Council on Health Promotion or Doctors of BC. These articles have not been peer reviewed by the BCMJ Editorial Board.
Sustainability resources and toolkits in health care
Physicians can play an important role through reducing demand for health services, matching health services to demand, and reducing emissions from the supply of health services.
Read This Changed My Practice to learn about sustainable practice tips.
Access guides, toolkits, and webinars
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE): Collaborates with national and international organizations to support physicians in advocating for healthier environments and ecosystems.
Creating a Sustainable Canadian Health System in a Climate Crisis (CASCADES): Aims to strengthen Canada’s health care community’s capacity to transition to high-quality, low-carbon, sustainable, and climate-resilient care.
Choosing Wisely Canada: Advocates for reducing unnecessary tests and treatments in Canada.
Climate Wise: A systems-based organization, offers evidence-based educational materials on planetary health.
GreenCare: Unites efforts to transform our health care system into environmentally sustainable and resilient care for healthy individuals, communities, and the planet.
PaRx: An initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, driven by health-care professionals who want to improve their patients’ health by connecting them to nature.
World Health Organization (WHO): A United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.