Equipping the healthcare sector to keep our planet cool

KLUG Climate & Health Alliance

Impact Sector
Education & Health

Type of Strategy
Innovate

Project Location
Europe

Entry Funding

In a nutshell

If the healthcare sector was a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. This project will work closely with the healthcare sector to reduce its emissions, and build its resilience against climate disasters. On top of that, KLUG creates new alliances and boosts an active network of health professionals across Europe – educating them on the health-climate link, and empowering them to promote effective climate action. Through education, awareness-raising and collaboration, we can increase public support for sustainable and transformational change.

Climate Problem

Human health is under threat from an escalating climate crisis. Extreme weather events, pollution and disease are all increasing, and are beginning to impact on us all. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year. The WHO has found that ‘every additional tenth of a degree of warming will take a serious toll on people’s lives and health’.

Despite this, the link between human health and climate is ignored and underestimated. We need to make health a part of the climate conversation. Reframing how we think about the climate crisis in this way will inform how we respond to it, and further push us towards reducing our emissions.

Meanwhile, healthcare in developed countries contributes significantly to resource use and greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., causing about 5 per cent of total national emissions in Germany). Health systems must be supported in reducing their impact on the climate. They must also become resilient – at present, health systems are unprepared to respond to extreme weather events. They must be skilled up and upgraded to respond appropriately,  and know how to protect themselves and their patients.

Project Solution

This project will embed the health benefits of climate solutions into public, medical and political perceptions. Achieving this will make climate action more personal to us all. KLUG will also take measurable action in supporting healthcare institutions to significantly reduce their emissions, as well as strengthening their resilience in responding to extreme weather events.

Health professionals have the potential to be strong advocates for planetary health – enjoying a high level of trust and credibility, they’re in a good position to push for change. KLUG educates medical professionals and students alike on the health-climate link, including on successful strategies for climate-health action.

KLUG will engage health professionals, organisations and networks in Germany and across Europe. This project promotes shared learning, and the exchange of experiences among health actors. Together they can identify factors that promote social tipping points, as well as barriers to change. KLUG knows this works: their experience in coordinating the Health For Future network shows that international cooperation strengthens national movements, and gives them greater visibility in the public sphere.

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“Health can quickly drive us to readjust our priorities. This is why health professionals taking the lead on climate action can be an inspiration to others and a catalyst for transformation. Your support helps us to build new strategic alliances for climate and health in Europe.”
Martin Herrmann
Chair of KLUG
  • Operational since 2019
  • Team of 32 employees
  • Headquarters in Berlin, Germany

About the organisation

KLUG's work focuses on the connection between human health and the climate crisis – and their mission is to see the healthcare sector become a leader in climate action. Working closely with a network of health professionals across Europe, they seek to drive the sustainable transformation of health systems, and to make them crisis-ready. As the leading voice of the new Planetary Health movement in Germany, KLUG is instrumental in putting the climate-health link on the agenda of health institutions, politicians, and society.

How your donation helps

We can help the German healthcare sector to strengthen and modernise its approach to protecting health, and to respond effectively to the climate crisis. In this way, the sector can become a leader in climate action. Thinking big, this project also supports health professionals across Europe in reforming their own health systems.

With your support, KLUG will hire additional planetary health professionals to coordinate change agents, and create European platforms for collaboration across the healthcare sector. Funding can significantly increase this project’s reach, helping KLUG and its networks to shift the social and media climate narrative.

Health professionals across Europe are connected, and work to spread the concept of Planetary Health through joint activities (with a focus on communication activities).

Collaboration between health professionals on a climate neutral sector enhances the momentum for systemic and political changes.

Health narratives that include the link between health and climate are increasingly visible in the national media and in national debates on the shift towards carbon neutrality.

Why we chose the project

"The team brings a great track record of winning landslide campaigns in the past. What makes this project special is that all stakeholders needed for substantial change were mobilised to join the table."

Dr. Felicitas von Peter
Founder and Managing Partner, Active Philanthropy

All our projects are:

  • aiming for systemic solutions in due time

  • having a track record in achieving similar goals

  • addressing co-benefits such as health or justice

  • endorsed by renowned climate funders

  • vetted by our rigorous due diligence process

  • monitored by us and reporting back to donors

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KLUG Climate & Health Alliance

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