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
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
A Top 25 hospital for sustainability performance
For three years in a row, Practice Greenhealth has recognized UC Davis Health as a national leader in environmental sustainability with a Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award – the organization’s highest honor for hospitals. We also received the Greening the OR Recognition Award and awards in Circles of Excellence for sustainable procurement, water, and green building.
More than 1 in every 4 hospitals is part of the Practice Greenhealth network.
COMMITTED & RECOGNIZED
Learn more in our sustainability tour
This self-guided StoryMaps walking tour 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 without leaving your desk.
More Believe in Better Highlights
Some recent examples of our ongoing efforts to advance health for all.
Heart disease in women takes center stage at 20th annual UC Davis Health forum
The Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine Program hosted its 20th annual Women’s Heart Care Forum to educate women community leaders about preventing heart disease.
Popular speaker series to address Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s, autism research and more
The UC Davis MIND Institute’s Distinguished Lecturer Series will feature a variety of topics about neurodevelopmental conditions in 2025.
Southern California wildfire evacuation illustrates life lesson for future mental health provider
When a psych mental health student was forced to evacuate her Hollywood apartment during a recent wildfire, she and her class learned important life lessons about compassion.
New toolkit helps rural communities plan for aging together
A UC Davis nursing school researcher collaborates with a national foundation to provide opportunities for older adults to age with purpose in their communities.