Sustainable and resilient
We’re working toward a sustainable and resilient health system.
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The role of environment on health
We know that the environment plays a big role in people’s health and wellbeing – a healthy environment supports healthy people.
Climate change is a huge threat to human health. Air pollution and rising temperatures are linked to many health problems, from increased numbers of heart attacks and strokes to the faster spread of infectious diseases.
In Aotearoa New Zealand a healthy environment is also part of mana tāngata whenua – the rights of Māori. Linked to whakapapa, the natural environment is considered a taonga under article two of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora needs to take steps to protect it as part of our Tiriti obligations.
How we can respond to climate change
We have many opportunities to respond to climate change, protect the natural environment, and create better health outcomes. These include supporting whānau and communities to become climate resilient and supporting New Zealand’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement. We are working to meet the requirements of:
- the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP) (external link)
- and the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019 (external link).
Because of its scale and large infrastructure assets the health sector can make a positive contribution to reducing New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.
We need to run our services in a more environmentally sustainable way, making improvements part of delivering pae ora – healthy futures for all New Zealanders.
Te Pae Waenga sustainability and climate change actions
Sustainability and climate change is a priority in Te Pae Waenga New Zealand Health Plan.
Te Pae Waenga New Zealand Health Plan
The report identifies the following actions Health New Zealand needs to take:
- Embed sustainability across decision making, investment planning, procurement and the development of models of care supported by a Sustainability Framework.
- Develop an emissions reduction plan by end of 2024 to achieve a 25 per cent reduction of category 1 and 2 emissions by end of 2024/25.
- Progress assessment of system resilience to climate events to inform national, regional, and local climate response plans.
Our Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience Priorities
Work is underway to enable Health New Zealand to be an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient organisation. This will help us deliver our Te Pae Tata actions and meet the directions of the Carbon Neutral Government Programme.
We have four focus areas:
Strategic integration of sustainability
Strategic integration of sustainability
Goal: To integrate sustainability in core strategic, decision-making processes and culture.
Delivering sustainable and resilient health services is a shared responsibility across Health New Zealand. The dedicated sustainability function serves as a centre of excellence, providing timely, high-quality advice to inform governance and decision- making, while actively supporting and engaging staff to contribute to this important journey.
Health System Decarbonisation
Health System Decarbonisation
Goal: To reduce health system greenhouse gas emissions in line with a 1.5-degree scenario.
Health New Zealand recognises we can make a big contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, by setting and meeting targets in line with limiting temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, as directed under the Carbon Neutral Government Programme.
Health New Zealand has a measured emissions footprint of 205.275 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year based on FY23/24 Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Our work supports a low emissions future, which involves making significant changes right away.
Environment in all Practices
Environment in all Practices
Goal: Realise co-benefits that include the environment alongside health, equity, social and economic values.
Health New Zealand can create significant social value and tackle health inequities through meeting our climate goals.
Linking health, climate change, and sustainability will allow people and whānau to experience better physical and environmental health. This means we can see the health benefits of improving environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
We encourage our kaimahi, partners and suppliers to lead and create systems that address environmental sustainability, which have a positive effect on equity, society, and economic values. This includes ideas to reduce waste in the health system.
Health System Resilience and Adaptation
Health System Resilience and Adaptation
Goal: To safeguard our health system by planning for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Climate change touches everything. It creates a direct threat to health through extreme weather events and increased frequency of disease. Damage to communities and social disruption from storms and droughts affects our mental health. But it also gives us an opportunity to act and improve people’s health by improving the environment.
The Health National Adaptation Plan, released in October 2024, requires Health NZ to understand climate risk and begin to plan for climate change.
For the health sector to respond and prepare in the best way, mitigation and adaptation must happen at the same time. This will help safeguard our health system and create positive outcomes for everyone.
More information
Public Health Sector Carbon Neutral Government Programme Updates
Public Health Sector Carbon Neutral Government Programme Updates
Publications
Related content
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Climate change and environmental health
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Greenhouse Emissions Gas Inventory Report
This is the second Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.