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, last year, 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.
How will the targets be delivered? It was a requirement that every NHS trust has a board- approved Green Plan by January 2022, with a board-level ‘net zero lead’ responsible for overseeing its delivery. Progress and commitments in the plan will be measured regularly.
A consolidated North Central London NHS plan must be developed by March 2022.
What will you be focusing on as a mental health trust?
There are a number of areas where we can make a positive impact including replacing inefficient buildings, maximising digital benefits e.g. cloud data storage and virtual meetings, reducing consumption of water and electricity, ensuring reliable access to vehicle charging infrastructure and through schemes that support our staff to go green outside of work.
What is the Trust already doing?
The St Pancras Transformation Programme will play a significant part in helping the Trust to reach net zero.
By moving from the ageing St Pancras buildings, and replacing our older, inefficient community buildings with newer facilities, we can ensure we meet and exceed energy efficiency and insulation targets. For example, we will achieve a Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘excellent’ rating for our new hospital – a sustainability assessment method that is used to plan infrastructure and buildings. It sets standards for the environmental performance of buildings through design, specification, construction and operation. It focuses on sustainability across the following categories:
• Energy
• Land use and ecology
• Water
• Health and welling
• Pollution
• Transport
• Materials
• Waste management
Also through our estate redevelopment programme, we will continue to develop green spaces, plant trees and create habitats for wildlife, all of which we know can have a positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
How can I get involved in C&I’s Green Plan work?
At C&I, our ambition is to be London’s greenest mental health trust and to achieve net zero carbon by 2030. To do this, we will need our staff and service users working with us to develop ideas and help implement effective and sustainable solutions. Engagement on our plan began in 2019 when we spoke to a wide range of local people to identify the priorities for our Green Plan. Our Plan is now approved by the Trust Board and work is set to pick up pace this year.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions or feedback, please email stpancrastransformation@candi.nhs.uk
Find out more about delivering a ‘net zero’ NHS here