How climate change effects our operations as we see an increase in unpredictable weather events
When Northern Light Health signed The White House/ HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge last April, one of the things we were committing to was developing an organizational climate resiliency plan. Planning for climate resiliency involves considering the potential for challenges and risks associated with long-term climate change, assessing our preparedness for and ability to respond to them, and identifying opportunities and strategies to address any gaps. For a healthcare system like Northern Light Health, a comprehensive approach considering climate-driven risks to both the built environment and the people of Maine made sense.
Our network of ten hospitals spanning the vast geography of the state exposes us to a variety of climate-driven risks that vary with each location. While Northern Light Mercy and Blue Hill Hospitals face challenges related to their proximity to the ocean, such as high wind, coastal flooding, and long-term sea level rise, our more rural facilities like Northern Light Mayo and CA Dean Hospitals are threatened by disruptions to transportation, utility, and supply networks during extreme weather events. Our patients and employees also face unique, climate-driven challenges as our state’s population grapples with poverty, housing and food insecurity, and high rates of chronic diseases, all of which can be exacerbated by climate change.
Northern Light Health’s Climate Resiliency Plan was released in December, and documents these and other issues we face, as well as action items to address them. The plan is available publicly a Northernlighthealth.org/ Sustainability. We anticipate revising the plan regularly, as new threats emerge and others are effectively planned for, so feel free to pass along commentary and insights, and thanks to everyone who contributed to the process!