A diverse coalition of Australian health organizations has collaborated to develop a practical, evidence-based guide aimed at accelerating the sector's transition to environmentally sustainable healthcare and achieving net zero emissions.

Launched on October 17 in a gathering of over 200 leaders from health, government, and academia, the 'Accelerating Towards Net Zero' guide provides actionable strategies to reduce carbon emissions across the Australian health sector.

Climate change is already impacting Australian health through increased hospital visits, mental health issues from extreme weather, and emerging diseases, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable healthcare practices.

Key actions include integrating low-emission principles into procurement, promoting high-value, health-promoting care models, and enhancing knowledge and capabilities at all levels of the health system.

The Australian Government, through the Department of Health, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting health sector sustainability and integrating climate considerations into everyday decision-making.

Professor Angie Bone from Monash University highlighted that the guide consolidates research and real-world examples, making decarbonization practical and achievable across various healthcare settings.

Innovative initiatives such as planetary health standards for medical education and new sustainability provisions in enterprise agreements are helping to accelerate systemic change in the sector.

The guide encourages health professionals and organizations to engage with available resources and initiatives, fostering leadership and collective action to embed sustainability into daily practice and policy.

The Australian health sector contributes approximately 23,522 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases annually, nearly 19% from pharmaceuticals alone, highlighting its significant impact on climate change and health.

Implementation challenges include reliance on local champions, outdated policies, and structural barriers, which require supportive governance, aligned funding, workforce training, and sector-wide collaboration.

Proven actions outlined in the guide include reducing hospital care pressure through prevention, greening procurement, waste reduction, and shifting to renewable energy, with successful examples like Prince Charles Hospital and NSW Health's Net Zero Hubs.

Speakers emphasized the critical importance of embedding sustainability into health operations, highlighting climate risks and the necessity for cross-jurisdictional collaboration to drive systemic change.

The guide, developed by the Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare Consortium convened by MSDI, offers practical advice for healthcare organizations to incorporate emissions reduction into their core responsibilities.