Healthcare is unique in that it operates 24/7, 365 days per year. Because we always need to be available to treat the emergencies of our patients, we also have to use energy, water, and products that generate waste to deliver our care. This contributes to healthcare generating large amounts of waste and emitting 9.8% of US greenhouse gases. It is critical that we build a culture of sustainability at UCLA Health to ensure we use our resources efficiently to generate the least amount of impact to the environment. Even small actions such as choosing to recycle or turning off the lights when leaving a room, when made by everyone, add up.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a long-time sustainability champion, whether you’re a patient or staff member, or whether you work in a clinical setting or administrative position, there is always something you can do. We need everyone’s help to achieve UCLA Health’s ambitious sustainability goals and make our hospitals safer, healthier, and less resource-intensive.
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