Examining Canadian Hospitals' Support for Planetary Health Through the Implementation of Green Teams and Sustainability Offices.

Abstract

Purpose: Planetary health is the idea that human health and the health of our planet are inextricably linked. The healthcare sector promotes human health but has a significant impact on our natural world. In Canada, some hospitals are leading the way towards promoting planetary health in an increasingly challenging context. The purpose of this study was to understand how Canadian hospitals support planetary health, specifically through green teams and sustainability offices.

Patients and methods: People working in Canadian hospitals, either in sustainability offices or green teams, were invited to participate in this study. Participants completed an online survey and indicated if they would like to take part in a semi-structured interview via Zoom. Twenty-nine participants were interviewed and asked about how they supported planetary health and how their teams were integrated into the hospital setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed and data were summarized using thematic analysis. Demographic information was collected through the survey.

Results: Three main themes were: 1) From grassroots to corporate: Green teams and sustainability offices. This theme defined, compared, and contrasted teams and offices; 2) Operationalizing this work: Five green team exemplars. The five teams were: 1) the single-person green team; 2) the health profession-specific green team; 3) the green team pilot project; 4) external partners supporting green teams; and 5) the "bottom up" meets "top down" green team; and 3) Paving the path forward and tracking success. This theme explored how teams used metrics and other broader indicators to understand success.

Conclusion: This study examined the work of Canadian sustainability offices and green teams in the hospital setting. The former promoted planetary health from a "top-down" perspective while the latter did so from a "bottom-up" perspective. Teams that integrated both approaches were the most effective in promoting planetary health.