SmithGroup Recognized at COP29 for Climate Leadership in Healthcare

On November 18th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognized SmithGroup at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), for its public commitment to reducing organizational emissions and building climate resilience. SmithGroup is one of 143 organizations, and one of a few architectural design firms that have signed the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge. The signatories commit to align with the federal government’s goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. 

In September 2021, more than 200 medical journals concluded that climate change is the number one threat to global public health, with the healthcare sector accounting for approximately 8.5% of U.S. domestic emissions that actively magnify the impacts to climate change.  

To help focus the healthcare sector’s response to climate challenges, the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) developed the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge. The pledge outlines a commitment to publicly account for progress toward reducing emissions, designate an executive lead for work on reducing emissions and publicly release a climate resilience plan. The commitments of the Pledge aim to address both chronic and acute climate change-related impacts, including challenges like extreme heat and air pollution. 

“SmithGroup's comprehensive approach to climate action underscores our leadership and dedication to addressing the climate emergency through innovative and sustainable design practices across our healthcare portfolio,” said Wayne Barger, vice president and director of health at SmithGroup. “We are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in its continued commitment to creating a carbon-free and resilient future for the healthcare sector.” 

Signatories of the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge represent over 960 of U.S. private-sector hospitals, along with many other stakeholders, including health centers, suppliers, insurance companies, group purchasing organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. U.S. federal health systems, including the Indian Health Service (IHS), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Bureau of Prisons Health Services Division, and Defense Health Agency (DHA), are also working to meet similar emissions reduction goals. Together, more than 1,200 federal and private sector hospitals have made such commitments, representing more than 19% of U.S. hospitals.  

Visit HHS to learn more: HHS Shares Health Sector Climate Resilience and Emissions Reduction Announcements at COP29 | HHS.gov.