Health Systems Task Force

Camden Breathing Better Year 1 Progress Report

Camden Breathing Better, an SMI Lighthouse project led by Reckitt, Bupa, and GSK to improve air quality and respiratory health, has launched its Year 1 Progress Report, highlighting the impact of collaboration in prioritising prevention and mobilising cross-sector action to support health in a rapidly changing climate.

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Link to report

First global standard for measuring the environmental impact (LCA) of pharmaceutical products

The world's first global lifecycle assessment (LCA) standard (PAS 2090:2025) for pharmaceutical products has been published by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Developed over three years by the SMI-PEG Pharmaceutical LCA Consortium in collaboration with NHS England, and others, this standard aims to harmonise how the environmental impact of pharmaceutical products is measured across the sector.

This launch marks a major milestone in fulfilling the SMI Health Systems Task Force’s commitment to establish a common LCA framework for the healthcare sector.

Open Letter to suppliers published by CPOs of private sector members of the Health Systems Task Force

CPOs from AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Samsung Biologics, Sanofi, Roche and UCB have signed an open letter, encouraging suppliers to play their part in accelerating climate and Nature action in the value chain. This includes a call on suppliers to sign up to updated joint, minimum climate and sustainability targets. These targets aim to reduce emissions and broader environmental impact across the value chain and reduce the complexity of multiple asks for suppliers.

Global healthcare leaders expand China renewable power programme with suppliers to support decarbonization of value chain

AstraZeneca and GSK, members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, have partnered with Takeda and nine suppliers, including Lianhe Aigen, ICON, Porton Pharma Solutions, Aurisco, Charioteer and Asymchem, to collectively procure renewable power in China. This collaboration among 12 companies will unlock approximately 225 GWh of renewable electricity annually for the research, development and manufacture of medicines.

Open Letter to Clinical Trial Community published by members of the Health Systems Task Force

Clinical trials can help identify new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease, however they are responsible for approximately 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year, equivalent to the carbon footprint of Belgium [Source: European Commission Climate Action Progress Report 2024].

CEOs from AstraZeneca, GSK, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Sanofi and Roche have signed an Open Letter, encouraging Clinical Research Organisations (CROs) to play their part in lowering carbon emissions. CROs are encouraged to measure emissions for all Phase 2 & 3 clinical trials from 2025, following on from the Task Force commitment to do the same at COP27.

Leading universities to train 10,000 future doctors on climate impact on health and sustainable healthcare

As Europe recorded its hottest summer on record,1 twenty-five European universities today launch a Network which aims to equip more than 10,000 medical students with the knowledge and skills to respond to the impacts of climate change on human health and deliver more sustainable healthcare.

Five global healthcare leaders secure industry-first, multi-party agreement to access renewable power in China

AstraZeneca, Lonza, Novartis, Novo Nordisk and Roche have signed an agreement in China with leading green technology company Envision Energy to unlock access to renewable power, resulting in potential annual carbon dioxide equivalent savings of approximately 120,000 tonnes.

Advancing Sector Decarbonisation Ahead of COP28

Ahead of COP28, the Task Force shares its progress to reduce the environmental footprint of health systems.

Open Letter to Suppliers published 

The private sector members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force have signed an open letter, calling on suppliers to sign up to joint, minimum climate and sustainability targets to play their part in decarbonising the healthcare value chain. The targets aim to reduce emissions across the value chain and reduce the complexity of multiple asks for suppliers, through setting common expectations of the minimum targets that suppliers should achieve.

Joint Supplier Targets Announced

The Health Systems Task Force has come together to set joint, minimum climate and sustainability targets for suppliers, to address emissions across the value chain and reduce the complexity of multiple asks for suppliers.

The Health Systems Task Force joined BCG's 'The So What?' podcast

Leaders from the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force joined BCG’s “The So What?” podcast to discuss the climate-health nexus and the urgent need to decarbonise health systems. In a new episode, Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, and Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk, discuss why global health leaders felt it was critical to tackle these issues together and what progress has been achieved through their partnership.

Sector-first commitments to accelerate net-zero health systems

Endorsement of commitments and action by health systems strategic partners

Through the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force, seven global pharmaceutical CEOs have aligned on sector-first commitments to achieve near-term emissions reduction and accelerate the decarbonisation of health systems.

The Task Force actions, commitments and recommendations have been endorsed by key health systems stakeholders.