Sustainability

Find out more about sustainability in the NHS

A greener NHS

The NHS was founded to provide high-quality care for all, now, and for future generations.

Understanding that climate change and human health are inextricably linked, in October 2020, it became the first in the world to commit to delivering a net zero national health system. This means improving healthcare while reducing harmful carbon emissions and investing in efforts that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

With around 4% of the country’s carbon emissions, and over 7% of the economy, the NHS has an essential role to play in meeting the net zero targets set under the Climate Change Act (Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service).

Two clear and feasible targets are outlined in the Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service report:

• Net zero by 2040 for the emissions the NHS controls directly
• Net zero by 2045 for the emissions the NHS has the ability to influence

Much of this will be achieved through energy efficiency, by reducing travel, decarbonising the supply chain and removing waste, for example by reducing single-use plastics.