About Zorg voor Klimaat

Zorg voor Klimaat (ZVK) is the Dutch climate & health network of healthcare professionals advocating for planetary health and a more sustainable healthcare system in the Netherlands. Originating in July 2020 as a working group within NVTG, it focuses on sharing knowledge, raising awareness, and mobilizing action through webinars, policy engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. Its site highlights three spearheads: share knowledge & experience, increase awareness, and spur action; since 2025–2026 ZVK co-organizes webinar series with KCGH. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl

Mission & focus areas: planetary health; climate’s impact on health and the health sector’s footprint; education (webinars/e-modules); and advocacy towards policy and practice change in Dutch healthcare. | Source: NVTG.org, zorgvoorklimaat.nl

Collaborations with GHH-partners

Professional associations & networks

  • NVTG — ZVK is a working group within NVTG (Dutch Society for Tropical Medicine & International Health).
  • NVTG/GEO — Co-hosted the webinar “Planetary Health across borders” with the GEO working group.
  • Groene Zorg Alliantie — ZVK was one of the co-founders (April 2021); continues to collaborate on events and sector mobilization.

Knowledge & coordination hubs

  • KCGH (Kenniscentrum Global Health) — Recurring webinar series partner (2025–2026).

Youth & student organizations

  • IFMSA-NL — Collaboration via Act4Health climate action group featured on ZVK’s platform; joint mobilization at climate events.

Overview of characteristics

Active in countries:

  • Netherlands (national network): awareness-raising, professional education (webinars/e-modules), advocacy (policy letters/campaigns), and convening across healthcare. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • International links (select): knowledge sharing and occasional spotlights on global planetary-health initiatives; primary focus remains Dutch healthcare. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl

Community of Practice (CoP):

CoP3: Climate change & health

Themes & subthemes within CoP3

Themes (what ZVK works on):

  • Education & training for healthcare workers (annual webinar series; planetary-health course resources). | Sources: zorgvoorklimaat.nl and zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Sustainable healthcare practice (topics include medication residues in water, air pollution, heat health, circularity). | Sources: zorgvoorklimaat.nl and zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Advocacy & policy engagement (e.g., “Code Rood” letter urging planetary health in education and climate-&-health in all policies). | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Community mobilization (e.g., organizing healthcare blocs at climate marches with partners). | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl

Suggested subthemes for CoP3 mapping:

  • Curriculum integration of planetary health (medical & allied curricula). | Source:  zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Climate-resilient care (heat, air quality, climate-sensitive infectious diseases). | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Healthcare footprint reduction (pharmaceutical residues, energy/materials). | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Policy advocacy within the Dutch Green Deal Duurzame Zorg ecosystem (with sector partners such as Groene Zorg Alliantie). | Source: Green Deal duurzame zorg

Organization type:

Network initiative

Available resources:

  • Knowledge & expertise
    • Planetary-health education programming: designs and delivers accredited webinar series and learning content for clinicians and students. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
    • Topical subject matter across climate-health (heat, air, climate-sensitive infections, pharmaceuticals & environment). | Source:  zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Networks
    • Anchored in NVTG (professional society), with direct ties to GEO, KCGH, Groene Zorg Alliantie, and IFMSA-NL/Act4Health, enabling broad outreach into hospitals, universities, and student groups. | Sources:  zorgvoorklimaat.nl ; zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Influence / advocacy capacity
    • Track record of public campaigning and policy letters (e.g., Klimaatcrisis Code Rood) aimed at ministries, academia, and sector bodies; ability to activate healthcare voices in national climate actions. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Coordination capability
    • Multi-stakeholder convening: commissions (webinars, planetary health), event organization, and a “network” platform that connects Dutch sustainable-care initiatives. | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl ; zorgvoorklimaat.nl
  • Financial resources
    • Primarily a network/working-group model; brings in-kind expert time and platforms rather than large grant budgets (no public evidence of own grantmaking). | Source: zorgvoorklimaat.nl

Contact information

Website: