The World Health Organization has declared climate change as "the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century." As our planet grapples with the accelerating impacts of climate change, it is crucial that we adopt a climate lens in the value transformation of our healthcare industry. The repercussions of climate change extend far beyond environmental shifts; they manifest in various health issues, including challenges with clean water access, increased allergens, respiratory diseases, heat induced illnesses, and the proliferation of infectious diseases. It's essential to acknowledge that while climate change affects everyone, the burden falls disproportionately on historically marginalized populations, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate impacts and social determinants of health in underserved communities.

In our pursuit of delivering safe, effective, and efficient care amid the climate crisis, we as healthcare leaders also bear the responsibility to address the substantial greenhouse gas emissions generated by the sector. Accounting for nearly one fifth of the U.S. gross domestic product, the healthcare industry possesses considerable purchasing power that can be harnessed to steer the nation toward cleaner energy and a low carbon supply chain. Beyond mitigating environmental harm, embracing preventive models of care and enhancing care quality that lowers excess utilization naturally aligns with lower carbon footprints. Value-based care, therefore, can become a powerful catalyst in propelling us toward a net zero carbon future that will build a sustainable, resilient future for our planet.

This week we are  interviewing Dr. Vivian Lee, a healthcare executive dedicated to the advancement of value-driven transformation in health and tackling climate change. Author of the acclaimed book,The Long Fix: Solving America’s Health Care Crisis with Strategies that Work for Everyone, she is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School and Sr Lecturer at Harvard Med School. Prior to her Executive Fellowship at Harvard, she was the founding President of Verily Health Platforms, an Alphabet company combining a data-driven, people-first approach to precision health.  Dr. Lee is also a former health system CEO, medical school Dean and member of the National Academy of Medicine. She is regularly listed among Modern Healthcare's Most Influential Clinical Executives as well as Modern Healthcare’s Most Influential People in Healthcare.Episode Bookmarks:01:30  The World Health Organization has declared climate change as "the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century."02:00  Climate change burden falls disproportionately on historically marginalized populations.02:30  The responsibility to address the substantial greenhouse gas emissions generated by the healthcare sector.03:00  Introduction to Vivian Lee, M.D.04:30  One in four deaths can be attributed to preventable environmental causes...and climate change is exacerbating these risks.06:00  Climate change resilience as a lens for value-based transformation.06:45  The irrefutable scientific evidence about the unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.07:00  What are health care leaders going to do about this?  (The need to manage the crisis through an empowered workforce.)08:30  Exposed vulnerabilities in our supply chain as a complication to address climate-related crises.09:00  The healthcare industry is responsible for 8-10% of the overall carbon footprint of the country (more than twice the #2 country!)10:00  How do we decarbonize healthcare in order to "do no harm"?11:45  Pollution from health care–associated energy use results in an estimated 405,000 disability-adjusted life years annually (a burden comparable to that of preventable medical errors).12:30  The strong business case for health care organizations to reduce their carbon footprint.13:00  Tax credits offered by the Inflation Reduction Act ...