The New York Blueprint: Scaling Healthcare Decarbonization for Global Impact
Aharon Kestenbaum, Director, Energy and Sustainability at Montefiore Health System, joins host Brianne Chai-Onn, Senior Partner and Head of Sustainability at FINN Partners, for a Global Health and Purpose Summit conversation on healthcare decarbonization, hospital infrastructure, community health, regulatory pressure, and operational value creation.
The session examines how New York’s climate and building emissions framework can serve as a practical model for health systems in other geographies. Kestenbaum explains how Local Law 97 turns emissions into a measurable operating exposure, while incentive programs, avoided penalties, energy savings, insurance rebates, and utility support can be combined to strengthen the business case for major infrastructure projects.
Drawing on Montefiore’s work across energy systems, heat pump projects, free cooling, greenhouse gas measurement, clinical sustainability, medical device reprocessing, reduced paper use, and cross-departmental governance, the conversation shows why healthcare decarbonization requires more than technical upgrades. Its central message is clear. Hospitals can protect communities more effectively when the buildings where people receive care are managed as part of the health mission itself.
Session Intelligence
This session examines healthcare decarbonization through the lens of public health, building performance, regulatory compliance, capital planning, financial discipline, incentive stacking, frontline engagement, and organizational governance. Its central insight is that decarbonization becomes scalable when health systems connect mission, measurement, infrastructure, economics, and employee-driven operational improvement.
Mission-Led Decarbonization
Healthcare sustainability begins with the responsibility to reduce environmental harm in the communities hospitals serve.
Infrastructure and Compliance
Local Law 97 turns building emissions into an operating exposure that can accelerate modernization and capital planning.
Incentive Stacking
Utilities, state programs, insurance rebates, avoided penalties, and energy savings can strengthen the economics of major projects.
Frontline Engagement
Clinicians and staff identify waste, improve practice, and help embed sustainability across the healthcare organization.
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