RSU Research on Sustainability Governance in Latvian Hospitals Presented at an International Conference in Barcelona

Researchers from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) presented new findings on sustainability governance in Latvian hospitals at the international scientific conference Environmental Science, Sustainability & Global Innovation (EnviWorld 2026), held in Barcelona from 18 to 20 June 2026. The conference brought together researchers from Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, India and many other countries to discuss the latest developments in environmental science, sustainability and innovation. The event highlighted the growing importance of research in addressing global sustainability challenges and supporting evidence-based policy and practice.

Representing RSU, Olga Veilande, a researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences, presented the study Sustainability Governance in the Health Care Sector: A Case Study of Four Latvian Public Hospitals. The research forms part of the Latvian Council of Science Fundamental and Applied Research Programme project Socially Responsible Green Transition: Improving Governance Solutions to Strengthen Homo Climaticus in the Health Care Sector (GreenCare) (No. lzp-2023/1-0341).

The study explores how sustainability governance is being implemented across four Latvian public hospitals. The research combined an analysis of institutional strategic planning documents with 40 semi-structured interviews involving hospital executives, physicians, technical staff and sustainability coordinators. The objective was to examine how sustainability principles are translated into everyday governance and to identify the key factors that enable or constrain a socially responsible green transition within the health care sector. 

The findings show that hospitals in Latvia primarily associate sustainability with efficient resource management, energy efficiency, waste reduction and the development of a people-centred organisational culture. At the same time, the research highlights the need for a clearer national policy framework, sector-specific sustainability guidelines and adequate financial support to accelerate the integration of sustainability into health care governance.

The presentation generated considerable interest among the international audience. Discussions focused on the key drivers of sustainability governance in hospitals, the potential social inequality risks associated with the green transition, and the practical recommendations developed within the GreenCare project to strengthen socially responsible sustainability governance in the health care sector.

RSU's participation in EnviWorld 2026 reflects the University's strong commitment to international research collaboration and its contribution to advancing sustainable and resilient health care systems in Europe.