Five years of a greener NHS: progress and forward look

Foreword
"In 2020, the NHS became the first healthcare system in the world to commit to becoming net zero.

This commitment was made in response to the evidence that climate change is no longer a distant threat but is already affecting the health and wellbeing of patients and communities across the country.

The benefits of taking action not only reduce the future impacts of climate change, but also deliver more immediate benefits for health.

Such action sits alongside the urgent need to adapt the NHS to the impacts of climate change, which will be felt hardest by the most vulnerable in our society, and will place significant strain on NHS infrastructure, staff and finances.

Healthcare in England is estimated to contribute between 4% and 5% of national emissions, and around 40% of all emissions generated by the public sector.

Not only does the NHS have a clear responsibility to minimise its environmental impact, building a more sustainable NHS offers a unique opportunity to deliver better patient care while minimising cost and impact on future services.

NHS England committed to regular reviews of progress, and this report is the first assessment.

To support this work, the NHS Net Zero Expert Panel – comprising global leaders and specialists in environmental sustainability, healthcare and carbon analytics – was convened to provide guidance on the next stages of this critical journey.

Despite the challenges over recent years, NHS staff have demonstrated extraordinary dedication. They have embraced sustainability principles, implemented impactful solutions and driven change.

Thanks to their efforts, NHS Carbon Footprint emissions have already decreased by 14% since the strategy to deliver a net zero NHS was published, and over 68% since 1990 – an impressive achievement given the context, and a reflection of their commitment.

Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out a clear and ambitious pathway. National demographic changes and an evolving burden of disease will increase demand on the NHS.

These challenges will be compounded by the impacts of climate change and will include more frequent extreme weather events and an increased prevalence of vector-borne diseases.

The NHS remains on track to achieve its interim target of an 80% reduction in direct emissions by 2032.

We recognise there is much more work to do, but are confident recent investments in solar power, battery storage, energy efficiency and charging infrastructure will further reduce emissions while delivering substantial financial savings.

However, the NHS cannot achieve net zero in isolation.

Decarbonisation of the electricity grid, acceleration of low-carbon heating options, wider electric vehicle infrastructure and more sustainable production of medicines are all essential.

We expect that the Greener NHS team will continue to refine data, modelling and analytical services to monitor and report the NHS carbon footprint with increasing precision, working with partners effectively to ensure interventions will enhance resilience, reduce costs and improve patient care.

We extend our sincere thanks to all NHS staff working towards a greener NHS for their continued commitment to this shared ambition.

Together we are building a healthier, more sustainable future for patients, communities and generations to come."