Climate Protector Policy Statement, 2023
Stony Brook University Hospital, consistent with our shared core values and our intent to achieve excellence, remains dedicated to supporting healthier and more resilient communities, both locally and globally. We recognize that climate change directly impacts the health of our patients and our communities, and strive to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. We recognize our responsibility to provide leadership in these areas.
We accept the critical link between human health and the health of the environment and continue to seek new and innovative ways to improve environmental performance through conservation, purchasing, reduction, re-use and recycling programs.
SBUH applies these principles to achieve optimal environmental standards consistent with our mission to deliver world-class, compassionate care to our patients, advance our understanding of the origins of human health and disease, and educate the healthcare professionals and biomedical investigators of the future, so they can bring the fruits of scientific discovery to our patients.
In an effort to respect and protect the earth's resources, restore environmental quality, and protect human health SBUH
- Instills environmental responsibility within the I-CARE organizational values.
- Sets annual goals and develops action plans to continuously improve the quality and measurable outcomes of our environmental programs.
- Monitors, evaluates, and reports practices as they relate to these environmental principles.
Additionally in October 2022, SBUH signed onto the Healthcare and Human Services' Health Care Sector Climate pledge (announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 27) which requires that SBUH:
- At minimum, reduce organizational emissions by 50% by 2030 (from a baseline no earlier than 2008) and achieve net-zero by 2050, publicly accounting for progress on this goal every year.
- Designate an executive-level lead for their work on reducing emissions by 2023 and conduct an inventory of Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions by the end of 2024.
- Develop and release a climate resilience plan for continuous operations by the end of 2023, anticipating the needs of groups in their community that experience disproportionate risk of climate-related harm.
We are invigorated in our efforts to meet these bold goals.
Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Stony Brook University Hospital
February 1, 2023
Stony Brook University Hospital and the HHS Health Sector Pledge
Stony Brook University Hospital was proud to join with many organizations to commit to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and building more climate resilient infrastructure and signed onto the White House/Health and Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge in October 2022. Although the pledge is not currently supported by the White House of Health & Human Services, it does provide a template for goal setting to reduce emissions and operate in a more sustainable manner.
Specifically, Stony Brook and other pledge signers commit to:
- At minimum, reduce organizational emissions by 50% by 2030 (from a baseline no earlier than 2008) and achieve net-zero by 2050, publicly accounting for progress on this goal every year.
- Designate an executive-level lead for their work on reducing emissions by 2023 or within six months of signing the pledge and conduct an inventory of Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions by the end of 2024.
- Develop and release a climate resilience plan for continuous operations by the end of 2023 or within six months of signing the pledge, anticipating the needs of groups in their community that experience disproportionate risk of climate-related harm.
The executive level lead for this pledge is Carol Gomes, Chief Executive Officer.
Stony Brook University Hospital’s SBUH Climate Resilience Plan December 2025 for continuous operations has been developed, reflects our annual Hazard Vulnerability Assessment, and is deeply rooted in our All -Hazards approach to emergency planning. Annual tabletop emergency management exercises bring together community partners to discuss preparation for response to potential climate change mediated events.
Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and are composed of many different chemicals including carbon dioxide, methane, oxides of nitrogen, and fluorinated gases. They are generally expressed as a group with respect to their environmental impact as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
Scope 1 GHG emissions are from sources under the direct control of the organization (for example, emissions from an onsite boiler). Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated activities from assets not owned or controlled by the organization, but which affect its value chain. Scope 3 emissions are everything else and make up about 70% of a hospital’s emissions. They include emissions from employee and patient travel and commuting, and emissions from purchased goods and services. There are fifteen categories of Scope 3 emissions, although some are not relevant to a given organization. More information can be found from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Stony Brook University Hospital continues refining estimated Scope 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Each year, data collection is improved and the estimates are refined. To date SBUH has estimated all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, and Scope 3 emissions in categories 3 through 15. We will continue to work on the remaining Scope 3 categories.
Scopes 1 and 2
Scopes 1 and 2 consider a facility’s energy use. At SBUH that primarily includes electricity, high temperature hot water (HTHW), and chilled water (CW). Progress on reductions over time has been documented.
Stony Brook University Hospital is estimating Scope 3 GHG emissions using the GHG emissions calculator developed for hospitals by Healthcare Without Harm. In Scope 3 emissions, SBUH has determined, consistent with most hospitals, that category 10 (processing of sold products), category 12 (end-of-life treatment of sold products), and category 14 (franchises) are not relevant. Additionally, SBUH has determined that category 15, investments, does not apply. The calculations of category 1 (purchased goods and services) and category 2 (capital goods) have not yet been completed. Efforts continue to make those calculations and to refine data across all GHG scopes.
Our current estimates of GHG emissions from CY 2025: Estimated Scope 3 Emissions CY 2025