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Supply chains

Health systems are responsible for around 5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually with supply chains making up 60-80% of those emissions.  

Recognizing that supply chains contribute the majority of GHG emissions from health systems, ATACH has a specific focus on emission reduction in the supply chain. ATACH aims to seek out and promote solutions and collaborative action in order to ensure clean, green and sustainable health systems.  

This area of work primarily contributes to delivery of the second commitment area of the COP26 Health Programme: 

COP26 Commitment area 2: Sustainable low carbon health systems

ATACH helps countries meet their commitments by: 

  • Identifying existing technical products and tools for building low-carbon and sustainable supply chains and making them available to Member States and ATACH partners.  

  • Identifying, disseminating, strengthening and advocating for evidence and knowledge on key topics related to low-carbon and sustainable supply chains (e.g. measuring and reducing carbon emissions from supply chains, sustainable criteria and standard for products and services, life cycle assessment, creating collective demand for sustainable products and supplies).  

  • Identifying and disseminating lessons and best practices from country and partner experiences in reducing the emissions from supply chains and supporting learning. 

  • Identifying country needs to implement their commitments on low-carbon sustainable health systems as they relate to supply chains and facilitate access to technical support.  

  • Facilitating access by the health sector to climate change funding for health and ensure the health sector’s capacity to develop project proposals on climate change and health is effectively strengthened.  

  • Identifying opportunities for collective action to contribute to and drive transformation in behaviour, principles and standards with a broad range of actors. 

Key resources

Decarbonizing the healthcare supply chain: strategic actions for health systems

This report outlines practical strategies for decarbonizing health supply chains through aligning sustainable procurement practices, optimizing product and service use, and accelerating supplier action. It outlines key interventions for leaders and policymakers, including procurement levers and low-regret actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Categories: Action plans for sustainable low carbon health systems, Guidance document, Global, Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems

Safe, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities: an overview

This guidance summarizes key information and strategies for creating safe, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable health care facilities. It provides definitions, actionable guidance, and resources for implementation by health care managers, practitioners, and national authorities.

Categories: Health National Adaptation Plans, Net zero health systems, Action plans for sustainable low carbon health systems, Guidance document, Global, Climate Resilient Health Systems, Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems

Climate Impact Checkup Tool and guidance

The Climate Impact Checkup tool can be used to assess GHG emissions baselines of health care facilities using facility-level data on energy, transport, waste, and gases to then calculate footprints based on national or local emissions factors. Downloads include: Excel tool, two training videos, guidance document and slides for users and trainers.

Categories: Net zero health systems, GHG emissions assessments, Action plans for sustainable low carbon health systems, Guidance document, Training, Tools, Global, Low Carbon Sustainable Health Systems, Supply Chains