For nearly a decade, Associação Paulista para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina (SPDM) has stood as a pillar of sustainability leadership in Brazil’s health sector. As one of the first institutions to join the Health Care Climate Challenge (HCCC) in 2015, SPDM has remained deeply engaged ever since—steadily advancing its work to reduce emissions, build awareness, and embed sustainability at the heart of public health care management.
SPDM’s comprehensive climate strategy began with one of Brazil’s first greenhouse gas inventories in the health sector. By systematically expanding this effort, SPDM has achieved remarkable results—nearly halving its GHG emissions per employee, with an impressive 46.7% reduction between 2018 and 2022—while generating significant financial savings and strengthening climate awareness among staff, leadership, and the communities it serves.
Their case study, Health system nearly halves GHG emissions making great strides in their Race to Zero, highlights how the organization leveraged strong institutional values, technical expertise, and data-driven management to drive measurable impact. In recognition of their sustained leadership, SPDM has received multiple distinctions under the Climate Challenge, including the 2024 Brazilian Climate Champion Award.
The institution also stands out as one of the Brazilian organizations that signed the manifesto 'Climate is Health, Health is Climate', reaffirming its commitment to the global agenda for addressing climate change and its impacts on health.
SPDM’s journey demonstrates how integrating climate action into the governance and operations of a large, public-serving health system can deliver both environmental and social benefits. Their ongoing commitment to the Race to Zero and exploration of renewable energy solutions underscore their long-term vision: a resilient, low-carbon health system that continues to serve millions of Brazilians equitably while protecting planetary health.