Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative
A provincial initiative that supported clinical teams to reduce emissions and improve the quality of care.
This collaborative, delivered in 2024, supported clinical teams to take action at the point of care by reducing emissions while improving quality.
Our Collective Efforts towards Environmentally sustainable Care
Health Quality BC led the Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative to support clinical teams in testing low-carbon practice changes that align with high-quality care. We brought together participants from across BC to learn from each other, apply evidence-informed strategies and build momentum for climate-conscious improvement.
This work was guided by the BC Health Quality Matrix, which recognizes environmental sustainability as a key component of care quality.
Thank you to everyone who made the collaborative possible. It was a great experience and we’re leaving with new tools, knowledge and inspiration to support our teams in advancing planetary health.
Did you know?
Health systems contribute upwards of 5% of greenhouse gas emissions, almost on par with the aviation industry’s environmental impact.*
1 aerosol inhaler, depending on the type, can have the same carbon footprint as driving up to 170km in a gas car.*
An operating surgical suite has an estimated impact of over 3,200,000kg CO2e. Equivalent to powering over 718 Canadian homes annually.*
What the Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative was about
The Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative was a 10-month provincial initiative that brought together clinical teams from across BC to improve care while reducing environmental impact. By supporting low-carbon practice changes and peer learning, the collaborative helped teams make care safer, more sustainable and more responsive to the needs of patients and the planet.
Why this Collaborative
Climate change is already affecting how care is delivered, through extreme weather, strained resources and growing health needs. At the same time, health care contributes more than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative was created to support clinical teams in taking action at the point of care, where even small shifts in practice can make a meaningful difference.
Key Partners and Participants
Led by Health Quality BC in partnership with CASCADES and Vancouver Coastal Health, the collaborative engaged:
Together, these teams formed a provincial learning community focused on advancing low-carbon, high-quality care.
Two Focus Areas That Drove Change
The collaborative was structured around two clinical streams, chosen for their potential to reduce emissions and improve patient care.
Climate Conscious Inhaler Practices
GOAL: Reduce the environmental impact of inhaler prescribing and usage in asthma and COPD care.
Best suited for:
Sustainable Perioperative Practices
GOAL: Apply sustainability principles to perioperative processes to reduce emissions and improve patient flow.
Best suited for:
View the Perioperative Stream Change & Measurement Strategy.
Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative Impact & Outcomes
Teams tested low-carbon clinical changes that reduced emissions while maintaining or improving care. Their results show how frontline action can support both patient and planetary health.
These outcomes show that sustainability and quality improvement can go hand in hand. Even small changes can make a big difference.
Low-Carbon, High-Quality Care Collaborative Resources
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