Humanity is confronting global inequality and an environmental emergency, and healthcare remains a significant contributor to climate change. Mercy Health has now released Caring for People and Planet: Our Path Forward 2026-2028. This sustainability strategy builds on the foundations outlined in Caring for People and Planet: Mercy Health’s Strategic Response to Laudato Si’ 2020-2025, and reaffirms our commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice and ecological stewardship.
Like its early inspiration Laudato Si’, this is a strategy of hope. It carries forth the longstanding commitment of the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Health to serving the poor and vulnerable, while looking to new evidence-based approaches for climate change mitigation and climate resilience.
Through a lens of Catholic social teaching, this strategy champions transformational change to tackle the climate emergency, reduce Mercy Health’s ecological footprint and to help make the world a fairer, more sustainable place. This is not just about environmental change but a deep and profound shift in how we think and how we act to care for our planet and all of its people.
Our vision is to be a trusted leader in reimagining high-quality care to advance health outcomes while safeguarding the planet for current and future generations. To achieve this, the strategy focuses on three key goals:
- Goal 1: Sustainable Models of Care – Transforming care through innovation to improve health outcomes and reduce environmental impact.
- Goal 2: Addressing Climate Change – Building a climate-resilient health system by reducing emissions, enhancing preparedness, and protecting health.
- Goal 3: Ethical and Social Responsibilities – Promoting ethical and socially responsible practices that strengthen cultural understanding, inclusion, staff wellbeing, and ecological stewardship.