The Joint Commission Joins Biden Administration Pledge to Decarbonize Healthcare Sector, Make Facilities Resilient to Climate Change

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Katie Bronk
Corporate Communications
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(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois, June 30, 2022) – The Joint Commission today announced it has joined the Biden Administration’s Health Sector Climate Pledge to reduce the carbon contributions emanating from the healthcare sector and to help make healthcare organizations more resilient to the effects of climate change. The Joint Commission as a corporation has pledged to reduce emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, The Joint Commission’s new president and CEO, has targeted climate change among his top strategic priorities. The Joint Commission is committed to working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other hospital and health sector organizations to support their efforts to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

“Decarbonization and sustainability are critical to a health agenda, especially because climate change is having a direct and inequitable impact on the health and well-being of people globally,” says Dr. Perlin. “Our mission is to continuously improve healthcare for the public, and we cannot fulfill that without addressing climate change. As the largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare, it is vital that we take a leadership role and work with healthcare organizations nationally and internationally to reduce the carbon footprint.”

The Joint Commission recently convened a group of healthcare organizations to learn about the steps they have taken to address their impact on the climate. The Joint Commission plans to identify and curate resources for organizations to help them take steps to reduce their own carbon emissions, and to make those resources readily available.

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About The Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve healthcare for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating healthcare organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.