The planet is sending increasingly urgent signals through extreme weather events, worsening air pollution, and other impacts of the climate crisis—signals that are already taking a toll on people's health and well-being. In response, health care institutions around the world are stepping up with climate action that strengthens resilience, reduces emissions, and protects health.
The 2025 Health Care Climate Challenge Awards offer a powerful snapshot of what that response looked like in practice. Last year, more than 260 institutions from 22 countries reported over 1,500 actions to advance climate mitigation, leadership, and resilience. Together, they reduced more than 490,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions—the equivalent of taking more than 100,000 cars off the road for a year—demonstrating that climate action in health care is acting now and delivering tangible results.
Among the institutions recognized through the 2025 Awards, five achieved the highest distinction as Climate Champions, while more than 45 others were recognized as Climate Action winners for their outstanding achievements across key areas of climate mitigation, resilience, and leadership.
The results also underscore the growing momentum of Race to Zero for Healthcare. In 2025, the campaign brought together 105 participating institutions across 30 countries, including 42 organizations that also took part in the Climate Challenge. Notably, four out of five Climate Champions were members of Race to Zero for Healthcare, highlighting the important role of ambitious climate commitments in driving measurable progress.
As the climate crisis accelerates, health care institutions are demonstrating that meaningful action is possible. Through initiatives such as the Health Care Climate Challenge and Race to Zero for Healthcare, members of Global Green and Healthy Hospitals are stepping up with practical solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and protect health. Their achievements show that the health sector is not only responding to the climate crisis—it is also helping lead the transition toward more sustainable, resilient health systems.
Explore the full 2025 Climate Champions Highlights to see how leading health care institutions are turning climate commitments into measurable action.
