Earth Day, observed each year on April 22, is an annual reminder of the importance of serving as stewards of our planet and its resources – by working together to solve climate change, end pollution, protect endangered species, and broaden the environmental movement across the globe.
At SSM Health, our values of stewardship and community call us to be good stewards of our natural resources and minimize our environmental impact every day of the year. This commitment is rooted in our heritage, as our founding sisters, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, focus on compassionate care of Creation by actively promoting renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and other initiatives to combat global warming.
We live out our commitment to environmental stewardship in a number of ways.
SSM Health is also taking an aggressive approach to impact investing, supporting organizations such as New Energy Capital, which has helped offset over 3.74 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2019.
“Aligning our investment strategy with environmentally sustainable initiatives is a win-win opportunity,” says Michael Miller, system vice president, Mission & ethics. “With a single set of investments, we can concretely live out our Mission and meet – if not exceed – business expectations. This is next-level stewardship.”
We also continue to evaluate ways to reduce energy use and improve waste streams system-wide. In addition, a number of local programs across the system are working to improve the environmental health of our communities, like the system office's Adopt-A-Roadside efforts and the Gone For Good program in our Wisconsin region, which works to collaboratively educate our community on the importance of proper disposal of unused prescription drugs.
How do you live out this core value in your own life? Take a few moments to watch this video reflection from the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), which calls us to serve as stewards of the earth rather than owners.
