Leveraging collaboration and systems thinking to build a climate-resilient health system in Canada

What we Can Learn from Abroad

While no single blueprint exists, other nations offer important lessons. Australia, for instance, has taken a collaborative and coordinated approach that aligns federal strategy with state-level action. Their National Health and Climate Strategy (2024–2028) establishes clear deliverables and accountability structures across jurisdictions.

The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has gone even further. It was the first health system in the world to commit to net zero, enshrining this goal in legislation. Through financial incentives, a bottom-up 'Greener NHS' campaign and expert advisory panels, the UK has demonstrated how national alignment and local empowerment can work in tandem.

These examples show that governance and funding matter. But so does narrative. When climate and health are treated as separate domains, neither can thrive. What’s needed is a cultural shift – one that positions climate action not as an add-on, but as a core feature of high-quality healthcare.

Collaboration as a Catalyst

This is where collaboration becomes transformative. Our paper calls for a coordinated national approach – co-developed with provinces, Indigenous governments and sector leaders to ensure Canada’s health systems are not only climate-resilient, but also equitable, data-driven and responsive.

But policies alone are not enough. Change must come from within the system: from clinicians, administrators, researchers and community partners working together to push the boundaries of what's possible. In our MGHL programme, we’ve seen firsthand how transdisciplinary, global learning communities can inspire collective problem-solving. Drawing on systems thinking, leadership practice and cross-cultural exchange, we've come to understand that tackling climate and health challenges requires more than technical fixes – it requires the courage to co-create new models of care.

The opportunity is clear. By embedding climate priorities into strategic plans, funding frameworks and even medical education, we can build a healthcare system that truly 'does no harm'  – to patients, providers or the planet.

A Call to Health Leaders

As healthcare leaders, we must move beyond incrementalism. We must:

• Advocate for integrated climate-health policies at both provincial and federal levels.
• Embed sustainability and resilience into the DNA of our health institutions – from infrastructure to procurement to clinical pathways.
• Elevate and resource local champions who are already advancing this work, especially in underserved communities.
• Redefine success not only by patient throughput or cost savings, but also by how well our systems protect health in the face of environmental crisis.

This isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a strategic one. As research increasingly shows, low-carbon health systems deliver co-benefits: they reduce waste, improve operational efficiency and often lead to better health outcomes. Sustainable healthcare is smart healthcare.

Looking Ahead

Our journey through the MGHL programme has deepened our belief that meaningful change happens when people work together across disciplines, geographies and ideologies. The climate crisis is complex, but collaboration is a lever we can all pull.

Canada has the knowledge, the tools and the leadership capacity to become a global model for climate-resilient healthcare. What we need now is alignment – and the collective will to act.

As we look to the future, let us remember: healthcare is not just about treating illness. It is about building conditions for well-being. And in the era of climate change, that means reimagining our systems – together.

Final Reflection

This piece is not only rooted in our research but also in the learning we’ve gained through the MGHL programme. The course has challenged us to apply systems thinking, policy analysis and leadership frameworks directly to our professional contexts, strengthening the way we approach complex challenges like climate and health. Writing our paper and engaging in this work has been a natural extension of those lessons –  showing how academic learning can be translated into tangible action for more resilient, sustainable health systems in Canada and beyond.