Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education

Building Climate-Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Facilities in Africa: A Webinar Series

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The health sector plays a critical role in climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Globally, the health care sector represents 5% of total greenhouse gas emissions. While Africa’s collective contribution to this number is currently small, as health systems develop the continent’s energy demands are likely to grow. However, health professionals, engineers, urban planners, and industry can work collaboratively with policymakers to build robust and sustainable health systems that reduce loss and damages due to extreme weather while also shrinking the environmental footprint of healthcare delivery. Importantly, these solutions have a range of cobenefits: improving health access, patient care, reducing long term operational costs, and aligning operations with global frameworks and governance priorities

The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE),  the Centre for Health Equity Zimbabwe (CHEZ), ARAYAA, Build Health International, and the Africa Community of Planetary Partners for Health and Environment (ACOPPHE) are launching a monthly webinar series to spark expert-led and research-backed dialogue on climate resilient health systems in Africa. This webinar series explores the many opportunities that currently exist to integrate adaptation and mitigation efforts into health system operations as well as practical guidance for how to scale up efforts to drive impactful change across sites and scales.  

This webinar series will explore the importance of building health systems that are both climate‑resilient and sustainable in Africa, It will equip health professionals with practical strategies to strengthen climate‑resilient and sustainable healthcare, learn from real‑world success stories across Africa, and connect with peers and experts to foster collaboration. The session will also share approaches to reduce the environmental footprint of healthcare while improving patient care.

Webinar Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the principles and benefits of climate‑resilient and sustainable health systems — including how healthcare facilities can adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with global and national climate priorities.

  • Identify practical solutions and innovations — in energy, water, waste management, facility design, and operations that strengthen healthcare delivery while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

  • Strengthen the capacity of health professionals and stakeholders — to plan, implement, and advocate for sustainable and climate‑resilient healthcare facilities through collaboration, case‑based learning, and access to existing guidance, frameworks, and networks.

Audience

All professionals interested in climate resilience health system are welcome! 

The expected audience includes health systems planners, hospital administrators, health facility board members, long-term care/community care professionals, business continuity officers, emergency planners, sustainability officers, public health and primary health care officials, health practitioners, clinicians, and paramedics working across Africa.

 

Webinar 1: Introduction to climate resilience in health systems and the role of healthcare facilities 

Session description:
This session introduces the concept of climate‑resilient health systems and highlights the role of healthcare facilities in protecting communities from the impacts of climate change. Participants will explore how sustainable health facilities reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and contribute to national and global climate goals. Practical insights will be shared on aligning health system investments with adaptation strategies and budget priorities to ensure long‑term benefits.

Learning objectives:

  • Explain how sustainable healthcare facilities contribute to climate‑resilient health systems.

  • Identify key sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the health sector.

  • Apply WHO and other relevant frameworks, toolkits, and guidance to plan sustainable healthcare facility improvements.

  • Recognize opportunities to integrate health system priorities into national climate and adaptation strategies, policies, and budgets.

  • Assess potential long‑term cost savings and health benefits from climate‑resilient healthcare investments.

Webinar 2: Renewable energy  and energy efficiency in health facilities

Session description: 

Energy is critical to the delivery of quality healthcare, yet many facilities face unreliable or costly/polluted energy supplies. This session explores the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency in improving healthcare service delivery, reducing environmental impacts, and cutting operational costs. Participants will examine real‑world case studies, learn strategies for integrating renewable energy into existing infrastructure, and explore financing opportunities for sustainable energy upgrades.

Learning objectives:

  • Describe the benefits of renewable energy and energy‑efficient systems for healthcare facilities.

  • Analyze case studies of facilities that have successfully implemented renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions.

  • Evaluate the role of green energy in improving healthcare access, quality, and reliability.

  • Outline strategies for integrating renewable energy into existing healthcare infrastructure.

  • Identify potential financing mechanisms for renewable energy and efficiency upgrades.

Webinar 3: Water  and waste management​​​

Session description:
Effective water and waste management are essential for protecting patient health, ensuring sustainable facility operations, and reducing climate impacts. This session showcases innovations in rainwater harvesting, water reuse, waste reduction, and safe disposal. Participants will learn how organic waste can be transformed into biogas and organic fertilizers, creating additional environmental and economic benefits for healthcare facilities.

Learning objectives:

  • Analyze examples of innovative water harvesting, reuse, and conservation methods in healthcare facilities.

  • Evaluate approaches to waste reduction, reuse, and safe disposal in health sector operations.

  • Assess the benefits of organic waste‑to‑biogas and organic fertilizer innovations.

  • Estimate potential greenhouse gas reductions and cost savings from improved water and waste management practices.

Webinar 4: Innovations in the design and construction of healthcare facilities

Session description:
The design and construction of healthcare facilities play a critical role in sustainability, resilience, and patient well‑being. This session examines eco‑friendly, patient‑centred, and culturally sensitive design innovations, including approaches inspired by indigenous knowledge. Participants will learn about disaster‑resilient construction techniques, the use of locally sourced affordable materials, and design choices that enhance both climate resilience and healthcare delivery.

Learning objectives:

  • Identify features of eco‑friendly, patient‑centred, and culturally sensitive healthcare facility design.

  • Draw inspiration from indigenous knowledge systems in healthcare facility design and construction.

  • Evaluate examples of durable, affordable, low‑cost, and locally sourced construction materials.

  • Apply disaster‑resilient design principles to new and retrofitted healthcare facilities.

Webinar 5: Empowering the Health Workforce and other relevant stakeholders

Session description:
A climate‑resilient health system depends on an informed, skilled, and empowered workforce. This session focuses on the key roles of healthcare workers, researchers, and policy‑makers in driving sustainable and resilient healthcare facilities. Participants will explore existing initiatives, networks, and capacity‑building resources to strengthen the ability of the health workforce to address climate‑related challenges while ensuring safe, supportive working environments.

Learning objectives:

  • Describe the roles of healthcare workers, researchers, and policy‑makers in advancing climate‑resilient healthcare facilities.

  • Access existing initiatives, resources, and networks that support health workforce capacity building for climate resilience.

  • Identify actions to improve working conditions and empower healthcare staff to respond effectively to climate‑related challenges.