Take the Health Sector CARES Pledge!

Your clinic’s sustainability and resiliency preparedness efforts represent more than operational improvements—they reflect a commitment to the long-term health and wellbeing of your patients, staff, and surrounding community. While this work is not always easy, it does not need to be done in isolation.

One of the most effective ways healthcare organizations can strengthen their impact is by joining peers around a shared vision for climate action and resilience. The Health Sector CARES (Climate Action, Resilience, and Equity Solutions) Pledge offers exactly that: a structured, supportive pathway into a community of practice focused on practical, measurable progress.

The CARES Pledge is led by Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)—a global organization that has supported healthcare systems in reducing waste, improving sustainability, and building resilient facilities and communities since 1996. The P[[[ledge is open to health sector organizations of all sizes, including outpatient clinics and medical practices, that are ready to plan for climate resilience and reduce their environmental impact.

The CARES Pledge signals leadership while allowing organizations to move at a thoughtful, realistic pace. Signatories voluntarily commit to a set of long-term goals, including:

• Reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with annual public progress reporting
• Sharing strategies for reducing on-site emissions, such as energy use, waste, vehicle fleets, and refrigerants
• Developing and releasing a climate resilience plan within one year of signing
• Designating an executive-level lead for emissions reduction and conducting a Scope 3 emissions inventory within defined timeframes

This is where My Green Doctor plays a complementary role. While the CARES Pledge establishes the commitment and community, MGD helps outpatient clinics turn that commitment into manageable, staff-led action. Through coaching, structured guidance, and step-by-step implementation support, MGD helps practices understand what these goals mean at the clinic level—how to prioritize actions, engage staff, align sustainability with daily operations, and track progress without overwhelming already-busy teams.

For clinics considering the CARES Pledge, My Green Doctor can serve as a trusted guide—helping translate pledge commitments into practical workflows, achievable milestones, and meaningful results that support patient care, staff wellbeing, and long-term practice resilience.

Ready to take action? The signatories of the CARES Pledge are not made public. Ask your health system, medical school, or practice network to sign the Health Sector CARES Pledge to join a growing group of healthcare leaders working toward a healthier, more resilient future.

Presentation resources are also available to help explain the pledge’s benefits to colleagues and leadership teams.