Race to Zero requirements and key actions

Race to Zero represents the maximum mitigation ambition of the Health Care Climate Challenge. By joining Race to Zero through Health Care Without Harm, institutions also join the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals network, uniting health care leaders at the forefront of climate action. The requirements for health care institutions to participate in Race to Zero follow the "5 Ps criteria": pledge, plan, proceed, publish, and persuade are based on the 2022 Race to Zero Expert Peer Review Group Interpretation Guide.

For more information about requirements and how to meet Race to Zero criteria, download the full version of the Interpretation Guide of Race to Zero Criteria for the Health Care Sector.

Plan: Key actions

Establish your baseline scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions. Race to Zero participants can use a measurement tool of their choice, or Health Care Without Harm provides the Climate Impact Checkup tool for members to estimate their GHG emissions.
Submit this data via the Climate Impact Checkup tool or the Greenhouse gas emissions data form of the Health Care Climate Challenge.
Submit your institution’s targets via the Greenhouse gas reduction targets form of the Health Care Climate Challenge.
Complete and submit the Race to Zero - Net zero target addendum form.
Write, submit, and make your net zero action plan publicly available within 12 months of joining Race to Zero. In the absence of a plan feel free to complete as much as possible the Annex sheet of Health Care Without Harm’s Net zero action plan template available for Race to Zero members.
Every five years, review, submit, and make your updated plan publicly available.

Proceed, Publish and Persuade: Race to Zero requirements

Proceed: Take immediate action through all available pathways toward achieving net zero.

Publish: Report progress against both interim and longer-term targets, as well as the actions being taken, at least annually.

Persuade: Align external policy and engagement, including membership in associations, to the goal of halving emissions by 2030 and reaching global (net) zero by 2050.

Key actions

Implement actions and interventions to avoid and reduce GHG emissions even before you outline the plan, and implement your plan when ready.
Estimate and report your annual emissions to Race to Zero via Climate Impact Checkup or using the Greenhouse gas emissions data form of the Health Care Climate Challenge.

Report your progress, interventions and persuasion actions annually via the Race to Zero Annual decarbonization progress addendum form.