We also use technology to offer health care as close to patients as possible. I think that we are going to be trailblazers in this field, we will show others the way to go faster and we will make it very difficult for people to justify going slower.ДЄKHS was already working in climate-friendly ways in that we emphasise keeping people healthy, and to avoid unnecessary health care, we practise evidence-based medicine which limits unnecessary consultations and interventions. The impression around becoming carbon neutral was that it would be expensive.Д«ut AKDN is an exceptional organisation, there are such talented people and the dimensions of our work are incredibly broad, which makes the possibilities to do new things and realise big ideas unique. Funding opportunities for poorer countries was and remains adapting to climate change вЂ“ preparing for more malaria and so on. When we started, the prevailing view was that decarbonising efforts should not be the concern of LMICs given that most carbon emissions arise from wealthier countries. And we, at AKDN, do all kinds of things from industry to health care, areas that are particularly polluting relative to other sectors. When we were given the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 we didnвЂ™t know if it was realistic вЂ“ the Chinas and Americas of this world are aiming for 2050. Here, Fawzia tells us about how the emissions tool came about and how it demonstrates a clear business case for organisations to reduce their carbon footprint. Her role in catalysing AKHSвЂ™s environmental engagement brings together her interests in nature, medical research and problem solving. She has a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and has extensive experience in working with ministries of health and UN agencies to create new initiatives. At AKHS, we take that principle seriously, and we try to reduce our carbon footprint where we can.вЂќ Dr Gijs Walraven, AKDN Director for HealthДr Fawzia Rasheed is Senior Advisor to the AKDN Director of Health. вЂњOne of AKDNвЂ™s ethical principles is good stewardship. The team has developed an innovative carbon emissions benchmarking tool that is now attracting organisations across the world. In response, it defined a strategy which started with benchmarking its carbon footprint, developing and implementing plans to reduce emissions and sharing lessons learnt with other local stakeholders вЂ“ particularly government вЂ“ for wider impact. In late 2019, AKHS was tasked to aim for net zero operations, by, if not before, 2030. Its operations span all levels of the health system and emphasise comprehensive primary health care. The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) manages health operations in eight low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), encompassing around 500 health facilities and hospitals.

Carbon health