Our Green Plan

The environmental impact of the NHS’s work is becoming a key consideration in all that it delivers to ensure we do everything we can to protect health, wellbeing and our planet.

Climate change poses a major threat to our health. Tackling it through reducing harmful carbon emissions will improve health and save lives.

According to NHS England, in 2021, heat waves claimed more than 2,500 lives in the UK, impacting the most vulnerable in our society. Air pollution is the single greatest environmental threat to human health in the UK, playing a part in one in 20 deaths. Reducing emissions will mean fewer cases of asthma, cancer and heart disease. And greener spaces and active travel will promote improved health and wellbeing.

What is the NHS doing to tackle climate change?
The NHS is a leader in sustainable healthcare. Since 2010, efforts across the health service have resulted in NHS emissions being cut by 30%. This is already improving care, as well as the health and wellbeing of patients.

In response to the growing threat to health presented by climate change, the NHS stepped up action in October 2020, and set out two clear and feasible targets in the Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service report:

1) The NHS Carbon Footprint: for the emissions we control directly; net zero by 2040
2) The NHS Carbon Footprint Plus: for the emissions we can influence; net zero by 2045.

To see how BEH intend to go about this, please click the link to view our Green Plan.