Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare: A Vital Imperative
Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it’s affecting our daily lives.
The World Health Organisation has labelled it the “single biggest threat facing humanity.” The Lancet Countdown Report 2022 goes further, stating that climate change “is undermining every dimension of health monitored”.
Some of the significant environmental changes impacting the UK healthcare sector include:
- Flood Risks: 1 in 12 healthcare buildings in England operates in flood risk zones. Between April 2021 and March 2022, 176 flooding incidents occurred at NHS sites across the UK.
- Heatwaves and Health: In 2022, heatwaves disrupted hospital IT systems and impacted staff and patients. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent.
- Heat and brain function: The Weight of Nature written by neuroscientist Clayton Aldern discusses evidence to show amongst other things that when our bodies are put under stress from excessive heat there is a link to increased aggression and a rise in crime,
Healthcare’s Environmental Footprint
The delivery of healthcare itself contributes to environmental impacts, including climate change. Considering these facts:
- Global Impact: If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest contributor to climate change.
- NHS Carbon Footprint: The carbon footprint of the NHS in England is equivalent to that of the entire nation of Croatia.
Benefits of Sustainable Practices
Supporting sustainable healthcare benefits both patients and the wider system:
- Reduced Environmental Health Risks: Sustainable practices minimise air and water pollution, reducing health risks like respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
- Cost Savings: Energy-efficient systems and waste reduction lead to financial savings.
- Increased Resilience: Sustainability enhances the resilience of health systems and workforce.
NHS’s Commitment to Net Zero
The NHS is leading the charge. It embedded net zero into legislation in 2022 and aims for net zero emissions by 2040 (scope 1) and 2045 (scope 2 and 3). The Greener NHS program drives this ambitious goal. Those working with or supplying the NHS are being asked to supply their carbon footprint calculated for Scope 1, 2 and 3, and provide a carbon reduction action plan to demonstrate how they can reduce their carbon emissions to achieve carbon net zero by 2050.
Five actions to take now
- Complete a carbon footprint for your organisation – TIP: tie this in with your annual accounts as most of the data will come from bills such as electricity and water.
- Identify the areas in your carbon footprint that contribute most to your emissions and separate into quick wins (things that do not take much to implement and will make a difference) and long term investment (things that require financial input but will make a significant difference). Draw up a short and long term plan of actions.
- Set up an environment team (don’t leave one person to take on the job that everyone should be doing) and delegate roles and responsibilities. This needs support from the top of the organisation.
- Research for grants and funding that will support some of these changes
- Communicate the plan to all employees and show progression.
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