The NHS has gone some way in responding to the challenge of climate change. Key legislation and other initiatives that are helping the NHS to do its bit on climate change are outlined below.
The Climate Change Act
The Climate Change Act became law in November 2008. It is the first legislation of its kind in the world, establishing a long-term legal framework for tackling climate change.
The Act specifically:
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Introduces legally binding emission reduction targets and a system of ‘carbon budgets’, capping emissions over successive five-year periods
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Sets out a reporting structure for an assessment of the risks of climate change
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Enables the Government to monitor progress to help ensure the UK is able to adapt to those risks
The Act contains four overarching pillars, namely:
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Creation of a system designed to establish a pathway to reducing emissions up until 2050
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Establishing a new independent body – the Committee on Climate Change
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Providing powers for Government to provide additional means with which to achieve emissions reductions
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Increasing accountability, including Government reporting to Parliament
Statutory targets
The Act creates two statutory targets to reduce CO2 emissions. The Act aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 34 per cent. In the longer term, the Act sets a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 as a fair contribution to global action on climate change.
The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy: Saving Carbon, Improving Health
The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England (CRS), written by the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU), sets an ambition for the NHS to help drive change towards a low carbon society. The strategy shows the scale of reduction in carbon required for the NHS to progress towards the Climate Change Act requirements and recommends key actions for the NHS to become a leading sustainable and low carbon organisation.
NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy: Saving Carbon, Improving Health (this will open a PDF file)
NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy: Saving Carbon, Improving Health (UPDATED) (this will open a PDF file)
The Strategy identifies key actions for delivering on:
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Energy and carbon management – every organisation should review its energy and carbon management at board level
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Procurement and food – every organisation should consider minimising wastage at the buying stage
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Low-carbon travel, transport and access – every organisation should routinely and systematically review the need for staff, patients and visitors to travel
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Water – every organisation should ensure efficient use of water by measuring and monitoring its usage
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Waste – every organisation should monitor, report and set targets on its management of domestic and clinical waste
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Designing the built environment – built environments should be designed to encourage sustainable development and low-carbon usage in every aspect of their operation
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Organisational and workforce development – every member of the NHS workforce should be encouraged and enabled to take action in their workplace
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Role of partnership and networks – every organisation should consolidate partnership working and make use of its leverage within local frameworks
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Governance – every organisation should sign up to the Good Corporate Citizenship Assessment Model and write a board-approved sustainable development management plan
The NHS Sustainable Development Unit
The NHS Sustainable Development Unit (NHS SDU) for England began work in 2008. It provides leadership, support and policy input to ensure the NHS in England is the leading organisation in action against climate change. Its specific roles are to:
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Provide leadership, expertise and guidance concerning sustainability to NHS organisations
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Raise awareness of the NHS responsibilities and actions regarding climate change
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Ensure the best practice and innovations on sustainability in the NHS
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Work in partnership with the NHS, government, industry and the third sector to achieve the above
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
(CRC EES)
The CRC EES is a new government-backed carbon emissions trading scheme. The scheme was introduced in April 2010 and covers large business and public sector organisations. It is designed to drive carbon emission reductions.
NHS Trusts that meet the criteria to participate will have to monitor emissions from energy use, report these emissions, and purchase and surrender a corresponding number of carbon emission allowances on a ‘cap and trade’ basis.
Participants’ performance will be published in a league table which will allow comparisons to be made between all organisations providing NHS care.
The Department of Health
The Department of Health Estates and Facilities Division works closely with the NHS Sustainble Development Unit in supporting the NHS efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This takes a number of forms:
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Providing expertise and technical advice and guidance
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Setting mandatory energy/carbon efficiency targets
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Providing health technical information on energy, waste, water, transport, health and social care buildings
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Requiring a BREEAM (BRE Environment Assessment Method) healthcare score of ‘excellent’ for new buildings or ‘very good’ for refurbishments
