Vancouver Coastal Health’s 2025 Climate Change Accountability Report (CCAR) showcases progress in advancing planetary health while delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
In 2025, VCH continued to embed sustainability and climate resilience across its operations—from facility management and infrastructure planning to clinical care and community partnerships—demonstrating how environmental action supports healthier people and communities.
Key highlights
- Delivering progress on energy, waste and operational performance. VCH met or surpassed several key targets, including reductions in energy use per building area and improved recycling and composting outcomes. These achievements reflect ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and support low carbon care delivery across the organization.
- Strengthening climate resilience and emergency preparedness. Climate vulnerability assessments were expanded across facilities, with 14 buildings evaluated in 2025 to inform planning and investment decisions. VCH also enhanced preparedness for extreme heat, wildfire smoke and winter events, strengthening system-wide readiness and continuity of care.
- Advancing low carbon infrastructure and innovation in care. VCH implemented energy optimization and heat recovery initiatives, alongside new tools such as a Low Carbon Resilience Framework to guide future retrofits and capital projects. At the same time, staff-led clinical initiatives are reducing waste, improving resource use and embedding planetary health into everyday care practices.
Looking ahead, VCH will continue to expand climate risk planning, advance low carbon infrastructure and strengthen partnerships—ensuring the health system is prepared to meet the challenges of a changing climate while supporting the well-being of the communities it serves.
Download and read the full report.
