We’ve made public environmental commitments, and received recognition for them, to provide sustainable health care and reduce our impacts on climate change – regionally and globally. Some examples:
Environment and Climate Change
Circumstances we’re helping to improve:
Climate change
Taking aim at the long-term impacts of climate change and carbon emissions to create a cleaner future for generations
Sustainability
We want our actions and sustainability model to be a case study, and encourage other health systems to make environmental commitments
Some examples of our efforts:
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Awarded for sustainability performance
Practice Greenhealth has recognized UC Davis Health as a national leader in environmental sustainability with its Emerald Award, which recognizes the top 20 percent of applicants. The award takes into consideration advanced sustainability programs with exemplary scores in multiple sustainability categories.
UC Davis Health also received Circles of Excellence designations for procurement, water, transportation, green building and food. The designations honor up to 10 of the highest performing hospitals nationwide in various areas of sustainability.
UC Davis overall was named the greenest university in the nation for the ninth year in a row in the UI GreenMetric rankings, and the world’s seventh most sustainable university.
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Recognized for climate leadership
UC Davis Health has been recognized by Health Care Without Harm among the hospitals and health systems that are pioneering innovative and effective solutions to mitigate health care’s climate footprint and enhance their resilience.
In winter 2023 UC Davis Health earned Health Care Climate Action recognition, including gold honors for climate resilience and silver for climate leadership. In 2022 we were recognized as a Climate Champion in a previous ranking system.
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Green building practices
We’re incorporating green building in the new and expanded patient care facilities we’re constructing in Sacramento and around the region.
For example, we plan to add 640 kilowatts of solar at our new Folsom Medical Office, and 3-5 megawatts for our main Sacramento medical center campus. And our new 48X Complex outpatient surgery center is slated to be LEED Certified, and among the first Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) facilities to be completed in California.
Also in Sacramento, the Aggie Square project is at the forefront of sustainability, from sustainably powered buildings to drought-resistant landscaping. The groundbreaking project is designed to minimize its carbon footprint and use highly efficient energy systems.
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Cleaner transportation
As one of the region’s largest employers, our green commuter programs help get cars off the road and support employees who choose cleaner options like electric cars and public transit.
For the sixth year in a row, UC Davis Health has been named a Best Workplace for Commuters for 2025. It’s an honor achieved by providing a robust employee commuter benefits program that promotes and supports sustainable transportation methods like walking, biking, public transit or carpooling.
Our medical center campus is also home to more than 90 electric vehicle charging stations, with plans to expand to 215 stations with 410 handles after construction. Electric vehicles also make up nearly 40% of our fleet vehicle inventory.
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Learn more in our virtual sustainability tour
This self-guided StoryMaps walking tour for staff, health professionals, and community members discusses UC Davis Health System’s efforts in reducing emissions, reducing water use, expanding solar energy usage, and more. You can also scroll through the tour virtually without leaving your desk.
More Believe in Better Highlights
Some recent examples of our ongoing efforts to advance health for all.
Autistic children more likely to experience persistent gastrointestinal problems
Stomach issues in autistic children are linked to greater challenges with sleep, communication, sensory processing and behavior, finds a study by the UC Davis MIND Institute.
National Recovery Month: Taking a whole health approach for treating substance use disorders
UC Davis Health psychologist Nicole Schultz talks about the recovery process, relapses, stigma, support and the growing number of treatment options for substance use disorders.
Honoring service through action: VEA volunteers on 9/11 Remembrance Day
On September 11, UC Davis Health employees from several different teams gathered at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery to participate in the National Day of Service.
Improving health outcomes by connecting with patients on a cultural level
The 2025 Dr. Ifeanyi Onyeji Resident/Fellow Inclusive Excellence and Equity Award was presented to Debby Lee, a trainee in internal medicine.