It was a true privilege to deliver the Closing Plenary Reflections on Global Health Systems in Transition at the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s inaugural Terra Carta Summit at Hampton Court Palace yesterday, a moment to reflect on the fundamental interconnectedness of human, planetary and economic health and how the health sector is increasingly uniting to scale solutions across R&D, energy, materials, transport, buildings and education to drive more sustainable healthcare systems.

Joining global health leaders from industry, multilateral institutions and academia in a session expertly moderated by Dr Maria Neira, Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health Department Director World Health Organization, was truly illuminating, with the opening keynote by Sir Pascal Soriot, CEO Astra Zeneca and Chair, SMI Health Task Force, highlighting the healthcare sector’s 5% contribution to global emissions and the immense opportunity to transition to net-zero, resilient systems, outlining the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force’s five-year journey so far and its vision through to 2030 to prevent disease, improve health outcomes and build a more sustainable future.

The discussion brought together invaluable insights, with Iñaki Ereño, CEO Bupa, addressing the climate impact on health in urban environments and the role of digital innovation; Dr Fiona Adshead, Chair of the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition, speaking to the power of cross-sector collaboration in decarbonising clinical research; and Professors Iain McInnes, Vice Principal and Head of College, University of Glasgow, and Francesco Svelto, Rector, University of Pavia, highlighting the critical role of universities in embedding climate and health education into the training of future medical professionals.

In my closing reflections, I called for concrete action and shared the Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s commitment towards transitioning to renewable energy and sustainable materials, investing in circularity and recycling within healthcare, reducing carbon-intensive transport, shifting care delivery into communities, advancing preventive health strategies, supporting the development of green hospital infrastructure, and fostering partnerships with cities to improve air quality, while embedding sustainability across the education and training of healthcare professionals to ensure a healthier future for all.

 

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