Sustainability has many meanings, which are all significant. The most recognized version is from a 1987 UN conference, stating sustainable developments are those that “meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”. (Brundtland Report, World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), 1987).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines a Sustainable Healthcare System as a system that improves, maintains or restores health, while minimizing negative impacts on the environment and leveraging opportunities to restore and improve it, to the benefit of the health and well-being of current and future generations.
For us, sustainable healthcare is a challenge requiring a holistic approach to the traditional three pillars – environmental protection, economic viability, social equity -, in order to enhance quality of life and improve well-being. However, the greatest threat is climate change and so every hospital needs to reduce emissions whilst maintaining this sustainable balance.
Fundamentally, it means operating a change in the current healthcare model based on illness and reframing our mindset to drive hospitals’ role in enhancing natural environment, supporting the economy and fostering healthy communities. Ultimately improving health for all.
- Bringing C-suite healthcare leaders commit to climate change and better health for all
The role of healthcare leaders is pivotal in driving this paradigm transformation from traditional management to sustainable leadership and in committing to take responsibility towards climate change through proactive means.
Powered by the IHF and building on the International Geneva ecosystem, the Geneva Sustainability Centre will work to become an accelerator of change and a catalyst to enable healthcare C-suite leaders’ journey towards sustainability.
Our Vision is to support hospitals become leaders for sustainability in their communities.
Our Mission is to equip healthcare leaders to have the information, tools and skills to deliver a net positive impact for a healthy and resilient future.
Our Values
- Purposeful: We enable leaders to create long-lasting value through our commitment to support the growth of a sustainable healthcare system.
- Evidence-based: We believe in facts. We focus on scientific and measurable outcomes in the industry globally.
- Reliable: We respect people and our community. It is our social responsibility.
- Quality: Quality is important for us. We review and ensure the correctness of our resources.
- Inspiring: We give leaders the drive to go full speed on their sustainability journey.
The Centre will work to establish the message and communicate the urgency for action and the call to lead. It will build the platform for initiatives, programmes and collective action, and will create long-term support to keep the work ongoing for the decade ahead.
The Geneva Sustainability Centre will:
- build awareness
- promote action among healthcare leaders
- provide capacity building
to anchor leadership for sustainability into the healthcare sector for the long-term with the main goal to make hospitals become leaders for sustainability in their communities and provide better health for all.
