By UW Sustainability | Dec 30, 2019
UW Medical Center sign

UW Medicine is one of eight founding members in the Washington Health Care Climate Alliance. The alliance aims to bring health care’s expertise, experience, and trusted voice to the legislative and regulatory process for climate-smart policies related to energy, transportation, food, waste, infrastructure, and community resilience.

In addition to UW Medicine, the alliance includes CHI Franciscan, Kaiser Permanente, MultiCare, Providence St. Joseph Health, Seattle Children’s, Swedish Health Services and Virginia Mason Medical Center. Members of the alliance are leaders in health care sustainability and have set, or are developing, greenhouse gas reduction goals for their own operations.

“UW Medicine recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship as part of our mission to improve the health of the public,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO, UW Medicine. “Through the Washington Health Care Climate Alliance, we will continue to advance our work to provide patients and visitors with a healthy environment as part of our commitment to excellent clinical care and outstanding service.”

UW Medicine has been regularly recognized for sustainable practices by Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards. UW Medical Center has been named among the top 25 greenest hospitals in the country for 13 consecutive years, and Harborview Medical Center has earned the honor the last eight years.

The Washington Health Care Climate Alliance is launching in collaboration with Health Care Without Harm, an organization that works with the health care sector in reducing its climate footprint, building climate-smart and resilient hospitals and communities, and mobilizing health care’s ethical, economic, and political influence to advance the transition to a low-carbon future. Health Care Without Harm also supports similar alliances in California and Massachusetts.