Cutting Washington greenhouse emissions will protect our patients, save lives

The first week of February, Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency for 19 Washington counties as record-setting rainfall, severe flooding and mudslides caused evacuations, injuries and extensive damage.

The recently released Plan for Climate Resilience from the Department of Natural Resources noted that recent extreme weather events such as these have been “a climate change wake-up call for the state of Washington.”

Fueled by climate change, these types of weather extremes are becoming more common, threatening the health and safety of all.

As CEOs of two of the largest health systems in the state, we are concerned about the growing danger climate change presents to the health of our patients and the communities we serve.

At a recent event at Virginia Mason Medical Center, health and medical experts from across Washington called attention to the impact climate change is having on people, including increased risk of injury and death from extreme weather, but also heatstroke and dehydration, worsening allergies from longer pollen seasons, and illnesses spread by larger numbers of mosquitoes, fleas and ticks.

While no one is immune from climate change, our children, the elderly, people with chronic health conditions, low-income communities and indigenous people are disproportionately affected.

Burning fossil fuels to power our homes, buildings and automobiles is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change and also the primary source of toxic air pollution.

Air pollution from transportation and other sources has been linked to myriad health problems. In fact, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency estimates that 1,100 people die each year in Washington due to outdoor air pollution.

The good news is reducing emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy yields immediate benefits in the form of healthier air for all.

Recognizing the urgent need to protect public health from climate change and support the transition to a clean economy, we have joined with six other health systems to form the Washington Health Care Climate Alliance. It represents 40 Washington hospitals and over 950 health care facilities, serving almost 8 million patients.

Because the health care industry is a major contributor to climate change and therefore part of the problem, we must also drive solutions. Members of the alliance are committed to reducing the climate impact of our own hospitals and health care centers.

We are investing in energy-efficient buildings, solar arrays on our hospitals, electric vehicle charging stations, water conservation and waste reduction projects, and more.

But these efforts are complex, long-term projects inadequate for protecting our communities from the dangers of climate change. We need comprehensive policy solutions.

The alliance will support public policies that invest in resilient hospitals and communities, limit pollution, increase access to clean energy, and protect clean air and water.

Washington has taken great steps to protect our environment and our health, but the science is clear that more must be done. We must rapidly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean solutions, here and everywhere.

We know the worst effects of climate change can be prevented, and this prevention also presents a significant opportunity to improve health and reduce health care costs.

We urge Washington policymakers to join with health care leaders in this work. Our health depends on it.

Ketul J. Patel is president of the Pacific Northwest Division of CommonSpirit Health and chief executive officer of CHI Franciscan, founded in Tacoma. William G. “Bill” Robertson is president and CEO of MultiCare Health System, based in Tacoma.