Centre History
Launched in September 2019, the Centre for Sustainable Health Systems is based within the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Uniquely for a unit with a sustainability focus, the Centre leverages the expertise and partnerships of one of the largest and most established academic units for health services, systems and policy research and training in North America.
The origins of the Centre date to discussion of the health sector’s role in addressing climate change during a faculty meeting of the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in September of 2016.
Efforts started with a committee of students, staff, faculty, and health partners working to foster a shift toward environmental sustainability both within and beyond our department. In early 2019, we connected with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) in the UK and learned of their many efforts to develop sustainable models of care. Inspired to advance their vision in the Canadian context, we partnered with CSH and deepened our mandate and reach. And with that, our committee evolved into a dedicated centre – the Centre for Sustainable Health Systems. We launched the Centre along with our inaugural Masterclass in Sustainable Health Care in September of 2019.
Since its launch, the Centre has expanded its impact, including through research, education and support for practice change. Of note, the Centre helped to initiate - and serves as Secretariat for - Sustainable Health System Community of Practice. Launched in September 2020, the Community of Practice unites 14 academic hospitals and seven health science faculties at the University of Toronto in pursuit of high quality, low carbon and equitable care.
In 2021, the Centre was awarded $6 million (CAD) over five years to lead a national initiative for climate action and awareness in health care, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. With two university partners (University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University) and a national NGO (the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care), CASCADES has a presence from west to east and in Quebec.
Many of the resources that the Centre developed to support practice change, including our snapshot series, events and professional development courses are now delivered by CASCADES. You can find our snapshot series the CASCADES Primers our Monthly Exchange and our Masterclass on the CASCADES website. Our Blog series is still hosted by the Centre, as are our past webinars, which remain available for viewing.
Moving forward, the Centre will continue to leverage university strengths in research and education alongside health sector partnerships to develop the evidence and capacity needed to transition to a sustainable health system in a sustainable world.