On September 26, Island Health held its first Climate Change & Planetary Health Conference at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo. More than 200 staff, medical staff and leaders from across the organization attended this special gathering—an encouraging turnout, given that taking action on climate change is one of Island Health's top priorities, and a key part of our Strategic Framework and Annual Plan.
Highlights included the launch of our new Climate Change and Planetary Health Strategy, which will guide Island Health's climate resiliency and sustainability efforts for years to come. A range of speakers and breakout sessions were featured, and attendees learned about the valuable work already underway and Island Health's direction moving forward.
In celebration of this event, we invite you to watch the video below, which features some great footage of the day, along with insightful and inspiring comments from participants and leaders.
For more on the event, including resources and photos, please visit the Climate Change & Planetary Health intranet Page. If you are interested in learning more about climate change work at Island Health and how you can get involved, please contact sustainability@islandhealth.ca.
You're also invited to sign up for The Beacon e-newsletter and get Environmental Sustainability Program updates straight to your inbox. Stay current on climate initiatives throughout Island Health, access the latest tools for change-makers and learn about upcoming opportunities to get involved.
Island Health is committed to making a positive contribution to environmental sustainability and supporting community preparedness and resiliency for climate emergencies. We are taking action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2010 levels by 2030 and diverting 70% of waste from landfills by 2030.