Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) has committed to doing its part to reduce emissions and become more resilient to climate change.

The health center was recognized for making this pledge by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thur., Nov. 10 at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

GLFHC is one of 102 health care organizations in the country who have committed to the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge. The pledge aims to decarbonize the health care sector and make health care facilities more resilient to the effects of climate change. The Biden administration’s goal is to reduce emissions by 50-percent by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

While caring for its patients, GLFHC said that social determents of health play a major factor in a person’s overall health. Spearheaded by the health center’s Greater Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program, GLFHC promises ongoing action to curb this major looming factor in the health of individuals and families seeking health care services throughout the Merrimack Valley.

“Pursuing health equity means that we must each do our part in providing people and patients a fair chance at healthful lives,” said Guy L. Fish, MD, MBA, President & CEO of GLFHC. “That means examining our practices and eliminating climate impacts we are creating. While the goal is ambitious, the negative consequences of inaction are as unfathomable as they are immoral. GLFHC is delighted that our residents have once again provided insight and guidance on the path forward towards healthy communities.”

A September 2021 consensus statement from more than 200 medical journals named climate change the number one threat to global public health, according to HHS. It exposes millions of people in the United States to harm every year — with disproportionate impacts on communities that are often already the victims of longstanding disparities. The healthcare sector also contributes to climate change, accounting for approximately 8.5-percent of U.S. domestic emissions.