ABSTRACT
The Health Services Executive (HSE) recognises it has a significant role to play in becoming a more sustainable healthcare provider. There is an opportunity to help tackle the climate crisis by dealing with the growing health impacts of climate change and by curbing our own emissions. The reality is that the climate crisis is a health crisis and the healthcare sector is a considerable contributor to net global emissions. The HSE Climate Action Strategy 2022–2050 builds on existing work within the HSE, including the already established Capital and Estates Climate Action & Sustainability Office, Energy Teams in place across the country. The Strategy outlines our actions and goals to accelerate change and become a Public Body that is both environmentally and socially sustainable. It addresses our mandated priorities in the Government’s Climate Action Plans focused on energy efficiency. The HSE is committed to integrating sustainable actions across areas such as buildings, green space development, transport, greener models for healthcare, procurement, climate adaptation initiatives and more. Delivering this Strategy will indeed be challenging and requires urgent, collaborative action working together with our staff, public sector colleagues, patients, partners, and communities—who will play a critical role in reducing our collective contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
