From the energy footprint of a hospital to the trauma of surviving a wildfire, climate change and health are inextricably linked. The impacts are clear, so what's the solution?
Today we launched the TIME100 Climate list of leaders influencing business climate action. Among the many remarkable stories are names of those striving to improve the health care industry and our well-being. This includes:
- Rachel L. Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Under her leadership, the department has begun recognizing climate change as a public health crisis. So far more than 115 organizations—including suppliers and insurers—and over 850 hospitals have joined the White House-HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge to reduce emissions.
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor, City of Freetown, Sierra Leone. In 2021, she appointed the city's—and Africa's—first Chief Heat Office. This year, she launched the city's Climate Action Plan to help boost climate resilience.
- Pascal Soriot, CEO, AstraZeneca. As part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative's Health System Task Force, Soriot helps convene business leaders from across the global health care system with a common goal of decarbonizing the sector.
