Driving Markets Toward a Greener Future: Kaiser Permanente

The climate is changing, and, it seems, the health care sector has contributed to the problem. According to The Commonwealth Fund, the health care system accounts for about 10% of the carbon dioxide emitted annually in the United States. Globally, the health care sector is responsible for about 4.6% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing their part in adding to an urgent global problem, more health care systems are cutting back on waste, carbon emissions, and energy use. As part of our continuing series looking at sustainability in health care, we've talked to three large health care systems to see what they're doing to clean up their act. This feature focuses on the climate change goals of Kaiser Permanente.