Climate-Smart Hospitals: U.S. Recognition 2024
- Across the United States, nearly 500 hospitals and health systems are receiving accolades for their dedication to minimizing environmental impact, bolstering climate resilience, and spearheading a conversion in...
- Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit based in Reston, Va., dedicated to sustainable healthcare, has announced the recipients of its 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards.
- Of those honored, 25 organizations received the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, the highest distinction.
Hospitals Recognized for Environmental Role in lasting Healthcare
Across the United States, nearly 500 hospitals and health systems are receiving accolades for their dedication to minimizing environmental impact, bolstering climate resilience, and spearheading a conversion in healthcare.This recognition comes amid increasing concerns about the health consequences of climate change.
Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit based in Reston, Va., dedicated to sustainable healthcare, has announced the recipients of its 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards. The annual awards spotlight leadership in environmental stewardship, sustainability, and climate-focused innovation within the healthcare sector.The awards highlight the critically important environmental role these institutions play.
Of those honored, 25 organizations received the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, the highest distinction. These facilities distinguished themselves through “exemplary performance and innovation” in sustainability, ranging from the adoption of clean energy to the development of climate-resilient infrastructure, according to Practice Greenhealth.
shanda Demorest, senior director of network experience and solutions at Practice Greenhealth, stated that the Top 25 awardees demonstrate a meaningful shift in healthcare. She added that these facilities prove that environmental responsibility and healthcare excellence are intertwined by embracing clean energy, decreasing waste, creating climate-resilient infrastructure, and engaging wiht local communities.
Honorees Coast to Coast
The 2025 Top 25 list includes both major academic medical centers and smaller regional hospitals. Stanford Health Care and the University of Michigan Health are among several institutions named to the list for the first time.
The honorees include:
- Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn
- Advocate Condell Medical Center*
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical center
- Beth Israel deaconess medical Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center
- Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
- healthpartners Hudson Hospital & Clinic
- HealthPartners Regions Hospital
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford*
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Providence St. Patrick Hospital
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Cherry Hill
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Edmonds*
- Providence Swedish medical Center – First Hill
- Providence Swedish Medical Center – Issaquah
- Seattle Children’
- Stanford Health Care*
- Stony Brook University Hospital
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- UC san Diego Health – Hillcrest Medical Center*
- UC San Diego health – Jacobs Medical Center*
- UCI Health*
- University of Michigan Health – Michigan Medicine*
(* indicates first-time recipient)
Environmental Stewardship: A Key Role in Health Leadership
Healthcare significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 9% of U.S. emissions, according to federal data. Practice Greenhealth contends that the sector can lead in developing sustainable, low-carbon systems that protect both human and environmental health.
The organization lauded the honorees for actions such as transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning systems to conserve water and energy, removing hazardous chemicals from supply chains, and preparing infrastructure for extreme weather.
Beyond operational changes,many hospitals collaborate with local communities—especially those most affected by climate-related health issues—to advance environmental justice and health equity. these hospitals leverage their purchasing power, community partnerships, and public trust to drive markets toward safer products and technologies.
growing Commitment Across the Sector
The awards coincide with more healthcare institutions joining the organization’s Health Sector Climate Action, Resilience, and Environmental Sustainability (CARES) Pledge. This voluntary national commitment aims to reduce emissions and prepare for climate disruptions. Practice greenhealth supports hospitals in this endeavor by providing tools, data, and technical expertise.
Practice Greenhealth supports over 1,700 hospitals and health systems in the U.S.and Canada. It collaborates across the healthcare value chain and with NGOs, academic institutions, and government agencies to promote sustainability throughout the industry.
What’s next
As climate change continues to impact public health, expect to see even greater emphasis on the environmental role of hospitals and healthcare systems, with more institutions adopting sustainable practices and vying for recognition in future Environmental Excellence Awards.