A Leading Health System Advancing Climate Solutions
Serving millions of patients while building the nation’s most eco-friendly health system
The University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine) is one of the nation’s largest academic health systems, serving millions of patients across the Philadelphia region and beyond. Climate change can directly impact a patient’s health, and by committing to becoming the nation’s most environmentally friendly health system, Penn Medicine is improving the health of everyone it serves.
Who Penn Medicine Serves
Penn Medicine provides compassionate care for individuals and families across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and beyond. The health system is comprised of seven hospitals: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Hospital, Princeton Medical Center, and Doylestown Hospital. Penn Medicine also operates several outpatient facilities, rehabilitation centers, and community health programs. The organization is committed to eliminating health care disparities by providing supportive care for patients from all backgrounds and engaging with the communities it serves.
Climate and Health Research
Penn Medicine researchers are investigating the ways that climate change affects human health, studying cardiovascular events, heat-related illness, infectious disease patterns, and maternal outcomes. The Perelman School of Medicine launched a Planetary Health curriculum in 2022, so medical students understand both the health impacts of climate change and its disproportionate effects on disadvantaged communities. Students gain practical skills through the program, learning how to engage patients about environmental health, connect them with community resources, and advocate for populations most vulnerable to climate-driven health threats.
Penn Medicine’s Climate Sustainability Action Plan (CSAP)
Penn Medicine has committed to becoming the nation’s most environmentally friendly health system, with goals to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2042. The plan spans all seven hospitals, addressing decarbonization, transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning supply chains, and building climate-resilient facilities. The CSAP reduces Penn Medicine’s carbon footprint, while also lowering costs to create healthier environments for patients, staff, and the surrounding communities.
Impact at Scale
Penn Medicine operates seven hospitals and dozens of outpatient and specialty centers with 49,000 team members. At this scale, decarbonization efforts mean cleaner air for Philadelphia and the surrounding communities, reduced waste, and healthier environments for both patients and staff. Penn Medicine’s commitment positions the University to advance translational research on climate-health connections and ensures the next generation of clinicians are equipped to address climate impacts on patient care.