The CMA is on track to achieve a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in its investment portfolio by 2030 — a vital target that is part of continued work to fight the devastating health impacts of climate change.
Recognizing the urgency of climate change, the CMA set an aggressive target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its investment portfolio by 2050. Interim targets include a 33% reduction by 2030 and a 66% reduction by 2040, compared to the portfolio’s 2020 baseline. As of Dec. 31, 2021, the CMA is reporting a 24% reduction of its investment-based carbon footprint.
A large contributor to this favorable decline in greenhouse gas emissions was the fossil fuel divestment motion, approved in December 2020, requiring that the CMA and its subsidiaries divest their investments from energy companies whose primary business relies on fossil fuels.
“Every day, physicians and other health care professionals see first-hand the devastating effects of climate change — from wildfires to heat waves to new infectious diseases,” says Dr. Katharine Smart, CMA president. “The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns that current emissions policies put the globe on track for up to 2.7C degrees of warming, far exceeding the 1.5C limit required to avoid the most catastrophic effects of the climate crisis.”
Remaining on track for the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target forms part of the CMA’s work to promote a healthier planet. The CMA is committed to combating climate change working in partnership with the medical profession and stakeholders. We will also be working to reduce our carbon footprint in areas such as travel and operations.