Environmental Sustainability
Organizational Commitment to Sustainability
Nova Scotia Health (NSH), Dalhousie University and the Department of Pathology value and support sustainability in healthcare as outlined in the NSH Environmental Stewardship Policy and Department of Pathology Strategic Plan.
NSH Environmental Stewardship Policy Number: AD-PSE-020
Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) adheres to federal and provincial environmental laws, regulations, and other accepted environmental standards. NSHA is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, and NSHA Team Members at all of our Facilities.
The intent of this policy is to incorporate environmental considerations in the planning and implementation of all projects, programs, and general operations undertaken by NSHA.
Departments and Committees
Department of Pathology Green Team
The Department of Pathology has a Green Team lad by Dr. Gillian Bethune which makes recommendations on sustainable lab practices to the Clinical Laboratory Administration Committee and welcomes suggestions from all Department members.
Provincial Laboratory Stewardship Committee
Dr. Manal Elnenaei and Jennifer Lefrense co-lead the Provincial Stewardship Committee which through its initiatives, including participation in Choosing Wisely Canada’s Using Labs Wisely initiative, and collaboration with Choosing Wisely Nova Scotia, significantly improves laboratory utilization and hence environmental sustainability.
AP Wellness and Green Healthcare Committee and AP Green Team
AP has a Wellness and Green Healthcare Committee, and an AP Green Team which make recommendations on sustainable lab practices to the AP leadership and welcome suggestions from all Division members.
The Cytopathology Section and the AP lab as a whole obtained green lab certification through My Green Lab at gold and green levels respectively, and the AP lab obtained platinum level sustainable labs certification through the Dalhousie Office of Sustainability and will continue annual certification and report the results in the Annual AP Medical QA Report.
The AP Green Team collaborated with CASCADES and healthcare professional across Canada to create a bilingual Sustainable Anatomical Pathology Playbook.
Members of the team lead the Canadian Association of Pathologists Environmental Special Interest Group.
Members of the team also regularly meet with pathologists involved in green lab activities in Europe.
Members of the team also lead the Nova Scotia Regional Committee of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment which advocates for green healthcare, climate action and protection of Nova Scotian wilderness spaces.
Central Zone Sustainability Committee
The Department is represented on the Central Zone Sustainability Committee sponsored by the Central Zone Executive Medical Director and Co-lead.
Dalhousie University Office of Sustainability
The Department of Pathology regularly undergoes sustainable event certification offered by the Office and encourages all members to follow the sustainable event checklist created by the Office.
The Department also strongly encourages its labs to undergo Dalhousie Sustainable Labs Certification. In 2025 the AP lab obtained platinum level certification, and the lab is committed to undergo certification annually and report the results in the Annual AP Medical QA Report.
Dalhousie Medical School
Dalhousie Medical School signed the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s Academic Health Institutions’ Declaration on Planetary Health.
Planetary Health activities are overseen by the Faculty of Medicine Office of Community Engagement.
Medical Students have a Dal Med Green Team involved in a range of planetary health activities, including increasing the planetary health content of the medical school curriculum.
