Ambitious Climate Goals by the Numbers: Providence Health and Services

Health care systems account for about 10% of the carbon dioxide emitted annually in the USA. In fact, American hospitals produce approximately 6 million tons of waste each year and use approximately 7% of all water consumed in commercial and institutional settings. As climate change becomes a daily reality rather than just a future possibility, major hospital systems are actively pursuing ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In this series, IEEE Pulse explores what steps are being taken and what challenges remain in conversation with different health care systems. This feature focuses on the climate change goals of Providence Health and Services.