Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector

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About the Program

Recognizing the critical need to address climate change through health sector leadership, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) launched the Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector (Climate Collaborative), a public-private partnership of leaders from across the health system committed to addressing the sector’s environmental impact while strengthening its sustainability and resilience.

Climate change is increasingly affecting people’s health and the ability of the U.S. health care system to effectively respond to increases in extreme climate-related events. Improving the carbon footprint of the entire health ecosystem can drastically lower the approximately 8.5% of U.S. carbon emissions for which it is responsible, while also having significant health, social, and economic benefits. There is a need to activate all parts of the health sector for sustainable change.

The Climate Collaborative’s work focuses on health care supply chain and infrastructure; health care delivery; health professional education and communication; and policy, financing, and metrics.

Co-Chairs

Victor Dzau, President, National Academy of Medicine
Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
George Barrett, former Chairman and CEO, Cardinal Health
Senator Bill Frist| Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader and Chair, Global Board of The Nature Conservancy

Staff

Jessica Marx, Senior Program Officer (Director)
Camila Anderson, Senior Program Assistant
Chris Hanley, Director, Climate Grand Challenge
Vijay Iyer, Associate Program Officer
Emma Lower-McSherry, Research Associate
Justin Massey, Associate Program Officer
Samantha Phillips, Communications Officer