“I believe that anyone, but especially the medical community ought to be advocating for a healthier, cleaner environment. That’s why I love your Green Initiative and the way you tie climate change right into human health.”
-David Suzuki
Keynote Speaker, HFHT Annual General Meeting 2021
Who We Are & What We Do
The Lancet Commission on Climate Change has identified climate change as both the greatest global health threat and opportunity of the 21st century. Healthcare is part of the threat as it is responsible for almost 5% of all of Canada’s emissions, but also poses an opportunity, as providing quality healthcare is very often low-carbon care. We invite you to join the Hamilton FHT Green Initiative (subscribe to our quarterly newletter here!). Since 2019, we have been summarizing evidence, launching initiatives, delivering educational events, partnering with other environmental organizations and creating many practical tools to share.
The Hamilton Family Health Team’s Green Initiative is working to support environmental sustainability in the delivery of primary care both within clinical care and the waste and emissions from the places in which we provide that care.
Liza Zvereva
Research Assistant/Project Manager,
Green Initiative
Dr. Myles Sergeant
Family Physician Lead,
Green Initiative
Dr. Rebecca Douglass
Primary Care Consultant,
Green Initiative
Dr. Beth Henning
Mentorship Program Co-Lead,
Green Initiative
Dr. Emma McDermott
Mentorship Program Consultant,
Green Initiative
Comprehensive Toolkits For Providers
Green Office Toolkit
Looking to green your office? Use our Green Office Toolkit, updated for 2024 and filled with implementation tips for building a sustainable workplace. This toolkit is a living document, so we welcome your feedback for future versions to green.team@hamiltonfht.ca.
Sustainable Healthcare for Serious Illness & End of Life Care
A practical guide for primary health care teams aiming to assist with overcoming barriers when engaging with Advance Care Planning and how environmentally sustainable practices can be integrated into patient care and health care delivery.
Green Initiative Documents
| Title | Summary | Last Modified | Tags | Link | hf:doc_tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Virtual Care | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Transportation | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| This Office is Going Green | … | 17 December 2024 | grow a green team | grow-a-green-team | |
| Sort Your Waste | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Smoking Cessation | … | 17 December 2024 | disease prevention | disease-prevention | |
| Recycling | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Printing Paper | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Prescribe for Impact Backgrounder | … | 17 December 2024 | test and treat for Impact | test-and-treat-for-impact | |
| Pollinator Garden | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Pilot Site Procurement Guide_ Environmental Office Supplies! (5) | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| PDF Park Prescription_Fillable | … | 17 December 2024 | prescribe Nature | prescribe-nature | |
| Park Prescription August 2022 | … | 17 December 2024 | prescribe Nature | prescribe-nature | |
| Paper Towels & Toilet Paper | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Nature for Health | … | 17 December 2024 | prescribe Nature | prescribe-nature | |
| Lung Association Pamphlet | … | 17 December 2024 | CARE Project | care-project | |
| LED Light Bulbs | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Lancet Poster | … | 17 December 2024 | grow a green team | grow-a-green-team | |
| Introduction to the Green Initiative | … | 17 December 2024 | grow a green team | grow-a-green-team | |
| Infant Measuring Board | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Heating | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Health and the Environment | … | 17 December 2024 | grow a green team | grow-a-green-team | |
| Green Alternatives to Common Inhalers | … | 17 December 2024 | CARE Project | care-project | |
| Examination Table Paper | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Exam Bed Poster | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Does your Inhaler Look Like This Poster | … | 17 December 2024 | CARE Project | care-project | |
| Do I Still Need this Medication_Poster from Deprescribing Network | … | 17 December 2024 | test and treat for Impact | test-and-treat-for-impact | |
| Disinfecting | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Deodorizing Spray | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce emissions | reduce-emissions | |
| Connect with Other Organizations | … | 17 December 2024 | grow a green team | grow-a-green-team | |
| Composting | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Cancer Screening | … | 17 December 2024 | disease prevention | disease-prevention | |
| Cancer Screening Links | … | 17 December 2024 | disease prevention | disease-prevention | |
| C.A.R.E. Project Guide | … | 17 December 2024 | CARE Project | care-project | |
| Biohazard Sign | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Biohazard & Medication Disposal | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| BC Parks Foundation Park Poster | … | 17 December 2024 | prescribe Nature | prescribe-nature | |
| Autoclave | … | 17 December 2024 | reduce waste | reduce-waste | |
| Green Office Toolkit 2024 | HFHT-copy-of-Green-Office-Toolkit—February-3rd-2024-2 … | 9 October 2024 |
Other Green Initiative Projects
Plant-Rich Eating
Eating plant-rich is a quadruple win as it improves health, reduces the costs and carbon footprint of healthcare, and reduces the carbon footprint of animal agriculture. Click here to learn more.
C.A.R.E. (Clear Air, Respiratory Excellence)
Coming Soon
Green Corner Newsletter
We welcome anyone to subscribe to the Green Corner Newsletter
Interested in learning more about the Green Initiative, or getting involved?
We’d love to hear from you!