Petition for UCSF Medical Center to Employ Environmentally Friendly Practices
Chloe Baiter
 
We are experiencing climate change at a devastating rate, especially in the last decade. Each year has been warmer than the year before, and rising sea levels caused by ice melting at the poles is predicted to cause millions to be displaced from their homes. Before our eyes, animals are on the brink of extinction, biodiversity is being lost, extreme weather patterns are becoming the norm, and emissions from factories and big corporations are making the air polluted and threatening our own health and safety.

Us humans have gone beyond our carrying capacity with the use of industrialization and technology, and our failure to be sustainable and recognize that climate change is an emergency and is going to hurt us, other species, and the Earth. As Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said, “We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules, it’s time to rebel to save the future.” She is not wrong, we are treating it like it is not an urgent emergency when the only planet we and other species can live on is being destroyed before the eyes of the younger generation. It is time to listen to the millions of schoolchildren around the world who are striking for the climate. It is time for 100% sustainability; individuals, businesses, farms, schools, hospitals, and government officials MUST treat this as an emergency and be held accountable.

This petition is meant to help UCSF Medical Center, including UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco become pioneers in saving the world and reducing health insurance costs.

UCSF needs to change their rules requiring it to be sustainable in order to reduce the amount of waste, and I urge it to pave the way for other US hospitals to do the same. They should also urge Congress to pass a law requiring sustainable practices for all hospitals nationwide.

The amount of waste that hospitals produce is enough to cover the Great Barrier Reef, and the majority of the things that are wasted were only used once and are still perfectly usable. 

The rules should mandate the use of eco-friendly cleaning supplies as well as recycling and compost bins in every room. Supplies should be reused whenever possible unless they are severely contaminated with bacteria. Soaking contaminated surgical tools in a sterile solution to re-sterilize them during operations will reduce the need for disposal, as many are made of metal. Items like diapers and baby wipes can be donated to help moms in need. Non-slip hospital socks can be donated to retirement and nursing homes for the elderly. 

UCSF should urge Congress to reduce the price of exporting hospital equipment. Many hospitals in the developing world and those with limited funds have bad-quality equipment and supplies. Many of the world’s best hospitals throw out perfectly usable equipment and supplies that haven’t been used or opened, from surgical tools to alcohol wipes. All hospitals deserve high quality equipment no matter the demographics.

All of these things mentioned above would save our resources and the cost of health insurance while maintaining the strict hygiene standards of hospitals. It would also help others in need.