Hospitals in the Boston area (United States) are achieving incredible progress in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent between 2011 and 2015, and are on track to reduce by 33 percent by 2020, according to a new report released by Health Care Without Harm – US and Canada.

More than 600 pharmaceuticals and their metabolites have been found in the environment worldwide. They pose serious threats to human health, including antimicrobial resistance.

Greater energy efficiency and transitioning to clean energy sources can both significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health from the impacts of climate change. Health care facilities consume a big amount of fossil fuel energy, but can significantly cut their emissions and energy costs over time by using alternative forms of renewable energy, and biofuels that do not undermine public health.