Anchored at the highest level: sustainability is part of the USB strategy
The USB has made sustainability a central field of action and defined it as a strategic goal at the highest management level by the Board of Directors and hospital management.
The sustainability strategy applies.
In spring 2022, the Board of Directors adopted a sustainability strategy and commissioned its implementation. This strategy was broadly supported by the joint work of internal and external stakeholder groups and underpinned by specific medium-term targets.
Not only were almost 60 management employees of the University Hospital Basel from the nursing, medical and administrative departments involved in the development of the strategy, but also 13 external stakeholder groups. These included, for example, representatives of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the University of Basel, the Patient Advisory Board, associations and the district secretariat.
The highest management level anchors the topic of sustainability at the USB.
In fall 2022, the Board of Directors included sustainability as one of ten strategic goals in the Corporate Strategy 2025:
"We are a leader in the healthcare sector in terms of equal access to medical services for all, sustainable use of resources and reduction of emissions." The ten goals define the USB's direction.
The USB focuses on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The sustainability strategy is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to "Health and well-being" and "Quality education", the USB has identified five further SDGs as important fields of action:
- gender equality
- Affordable and clean energy
- Climate protection measures
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- responsible consumption
Joining the federal government's "Exemplary Energy and Climate" initiative
Together with the three university hospitals in Geneva (Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève HUG), Lausanne (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV) and Bern (Inselgruppe Bern), the USB decided at the end of 2022 to join the federal government's "Exemplary Energy and Climate" initiative. The aim is to continue to act as a role model in the future and make progress transparent and verifiable.
Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs are 17 goals set by the United Nations to contribute to sustainable social, environmental and economic development by 2030. As one of 193 signatory states, Switzerland has committed to implementing them.
Federal "Exemplary Energy and Climate" initiative
The initiative is led by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) and is aimed at the most important Swiss providers of publicly relevant services. The players want to act in an innovative and exemplary manner in the area of energy and climate and thus contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015.
The Board of Directors on its goals in the area of sustainability
"We are leading the way in healthcare in terms of equal access to medical services for all, sustainable use of resources and reduction of emissions."
Key visuals for the electricity savings campaign University Hospital Winter 2022/23
