Health Professionals in support of Fossil Fuel Divestment

Health Professionals: Add Your Voice: Support Fossil Fuel Divestment

We invite health professionals, health students and all public health advocates to add their name in support of our letter to 400 senior US healthcare executives, urging health sector institutions to divest from fossil fuels. The campaign is endorsed by health professionals around the world and has received organizational endorsements from Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and several professional health associations in the U.S. and Canada. Read the letter here

The Health and Financial Costs of Fossil Fuels

$820 billion in annual health costs from fossil fuel-driven air pollution and climate change (U.S. Senate Hearings, 2023).
Thousands of hospital evacuations from extreme weather events across the world from Florida to Mozambique to China.
National IV fluid shortages caused by extreme storms damaging manufacturing plants (2017, 2024).

Fossil Fuel Investments Contradict Healthcare’s Mission

Kaiser Permanente: Over $2 billion in fossil fuel investments, including $600 million in Exxon, Shell, and Suncor.
Providence: Despite bold climate claims, invests in Exxon, Halliburton, and Suncor—the world’s most carbon-intensive oil producer.
Cleveland Clinic: Holds $10 million in fossil fuel companies, including Dakota Access Pipeline operator.
Mayo Clinic: Owns oil production facilities and holds stock in ConocoPhillips (Willow Arctic drilling project).

Why This Matters to Health Professionals

1 in 12 hospitals worldwide will face severe climate disaster risks by 2100 (XDI Risk Report, 2023).
1 in 5 preventable deaths globally is linked to fossil fuel pollution (Harvard Research, 2021).
Climate change-driven disasters disrupt patient care, supply chains, and hospital operations.

Join the Movement for Fossil Fuel Divestment

Over 1,630 institutions, including the National Academy of Medicine, Rockefeller Foundation, and Ford Foundation, have already committed to divesting from fossil fuels. It’s time for our healthcare institutions to do the same.

As frontline providers—nurses, surgeons, ER doctors, CRNAs, pathologists, and more—we must advocate for a healthcare system that protects patients, not fuels a crisis.

This is our chance to make a real impact. Join us and endorse fossil fuel divestment today.

Thank you,

Amy Gray, Associate Director of Climate Finance, Stand.earth

Don Lieber, Campaign Director, First Do No Harm

Endorsing Organizations:

More than 1,600 institutions have committed to divest from fossil fuels. See who they are here, and share with your colleagues.

Tell Our CEOs: Prioritize Health. Stop Investing in Fossil Fuels.

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Report

The Biggest Malpractice: How Hospitals Betray the Public Trust with Billions in Fossil FuelPension Investments

The first-of-its-kind report finds pension funds of four major hospital networks including the Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Ascension Health System, and the nation’s largest health system HCA Healthcare have over $4.6 billion invested in fossil fuels. Download and read the report here.

View Report

Health Library

Research on the topics of climate change and human health.

Asthma Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Dengue Fever Health Impacts Impacts of Extreme Heat Infectious Disease Leukemia Maternal Health Pediatric Health PM2 Vector borne disease Wildfires

Report: Fueling Sickness – The Hidden Health Costs of Fossil Fuel Pollution (2025)

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR)

Asthma Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Dengue Fever Health Disparities Health Impacts Healthcare Infrastructure Healthcare Supply Chain Human Rights Impacts of Extreme Heat Impacts on Health System Infectious Disease Leukemia PM2 Prenatal Health

2025 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown on Climate and Health: Comprehensive Findings from Across the World

The Lancet

Global South Infectious Disease Vector borne disease

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Climate Change: “Governments Should Pay Attention to Greenhouse Gas Emissions”

PLOS - Neglected Tropical Diseases (2024)

Asthma Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Dengue Fever Fracking Health Impacts Impacts of Extreme Heat Leukemia Maternal Health Mental Health Mortality Pediatric Health PM2 Prenatal Health Waterborne Disease

“From Cradle to Grave” – Every phase of the fossil fuel production lifecycle linked to systemic human health harms: GCHA report (2025)

Global Climate and Health Alliance report: "From Cradle to Grave"

Global South Health Disparities Health Impacts Healthcare Delivery Impacts of Extreme Heat Impacts on Health System

India: Research team reveals severe impacts on public health and healthcare delivery from record heat extremes; millions impacted.

Bloomberg Businessweek

Asthma Cancer Health Disparities Health Impacts PM2

U.S.: 91,000 deaths, 1,610 cancers, annually, attributed to oil and gas pollutants; black and asian populations suffer disproportionately

Journal of Science Advances (AAAS)

Join the growing call for health sector divestment from fossil fuels.

As health professionals we demand the executives of our institutions adhere to the same core ethical principle in their investment policies -managing funds in our name -as they expect of us in our clinics in the era of climate change: First, Do No Harm.

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