NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England - have your say
It is now widely recognised that climate change is probably the most serious threat to our health and well-being. It is also recognised that action to tackle climate change can save money and improve our health and well-being. Saving Carbon, Improving Health: A draft carbon reduction strategy for the NHS in England sets the framework for NHS organisations in England to reduce their carbon emissions and become public sector leaders in mitigating climate change. It is a consultation document that welcomes your attention and action.
EUROPE’S BIGGEST EMPLOYER – THE NHS – PLEDGES
TO CUT ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT
The NHS, the biggest
employer in Europe, today committed to reduce
its carbon footprint.
The NHS currently contributes approximately 3 per
cent of England’s
total carbon dioxide emissions. The Carbon Reduction Strategy, published today
for consultation, commits the NHS to reduce these emissions by 60 per cent by
2050 in all areas, including procurement, travel and building energy use and sets out ways that this can be achieved.
Launching the strategy at
Kentish Town Integrated Health Centre in London,
Health Minister Ivan Lewis said:
“Climate change is one of
the greatest threats to our health and well-being.
“As part of our commitment to sustainable development we will work with the NHS
to enable organisations to reduce their carbon footprints. Climate change
also has real health implications, and so we are taking action to help people adapt
to our changing climate.
“Climate change is happening on our watch – it will be our legacy. We must all work
together to tackle this global problem.”
The NHS is responsible for over 18 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide per year and is the largest public sector contributor to climate
change. The Strategy shows where NHS carbon dioxide emissions are coming from
and then proposes actions for reducing that carbon footprint.
The Chief Executive of the
NHS, David Nicholson, said:
“The nature and the scale of
our business in the NHS means we have a responsibility - as well as a unique opportunity – to play a
leading role in the climate change agenda for the benefit of patients and the
public.
“It is up to us to challenge
ourselves, so the scale of our
ambition to tackle carbon emissions matches the scale of our opportunity. This
consultation is an important next step on that journey.
“To provide practical
support to organisations in doing this, we have established a new NHS
Sustainable Development Unit. This will
help build on the work we are already doing – over half of all NHS Trusts are
now registered on the NHS Good Corporate Citizenship Assessment Model – adding
fresh ideas and impetus.
“I am confident we can rise
to this challenge and I look forward to every leader and member of staff
playing their part in another achievement the NHS can be proud of.”
Proposals suggested within
the strategy include: all NHS bodies to have a Carbon Management Strategy
by 2009; organisations to report
annually on their sustainable development progress; and for the NHS to recycle
75% of its waste by 2020. The Strategy is a draft for consultation and people
are encouraged to respond by 21st August.
The Strategy is the first output of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit
which is hosted by NHS East of England.
Chief Executive of NHS East
of England Neil McKay said;
“Our unit was
created to provide the leadership, support and ammunition that NHS
organisations need to take sustainable development into account in their
day-to-day business. This is the first of a series of strategies that will take
forward a sustainable development programme in the NHS.
“I would encourage anybody – doctors, nurses, patients, visitors – to
put forward their views as part of this consultation.”
Notes to editors
- The NHS is responsible for over 18 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and is the largest public sector
contributor to climate change. This includes energy used for power and
heating in buildings, and also takes into account the journeys that the
NHS generates and the carbon emitted in the manufacture of the products
bought and used by the NHS.
- Saving Carbon, Improving
Health: A Carbon Reduction Strategy for the NHS in England - a consultation
document can be found at www.sdu.nhs.uk and closes 21st August 2008.
3. The NHS
Sustainable Development Unit was established on April1st 2008 by the Office of
the SHAs in England.
The
roles of the unit are to:
a) to be a source of leadership, expertise and guidance
concerning sustainable development to all NHS organisations in England.
b) raise awareness across the NHS as to the important
responsibilities of, and actions for, the NHS regarding sustainable development
and climate change. This includes promoting a culture of measurement and
management which underpins carbon governance.
c) help shape NHS
policy, locally, nationally and internationally that makes promoting
sustainable development and adapting to and mitigating climate change as easy
as possible for every NHS organisation.
d) ensure the very best practice and innovations on
sustainability in the NHS and elsewhere are evaluated and costed and the
mechanisms for implementation are made fully available to other NHS
organisations.
e) work in partnership with the NHS, government,
industry and the third sector to achieve the above.
The
unit is run under the auspices of the Office of the SHAs (OSHA) on behalf of
the SHA Chief Executives. It is hosted by the Strategic Health Authority in the
East of England in Fulbourn, Cambridge. The Accountability of the Unit is through the
CEO, Neil McKay and to the CEO of the NHS, David Nicholson.
- The UK Government has committed itself to take
action now, and is legislating in the Climate Change Bill a new target to
cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60 per cent by 2050, based on
1990 levels, with a minimum reduction of 26 per cent by 2020.
5. Kentish Town Integrated Health Centre is a £10 million new
facility built with an energy reduction design including:
· Night and day
cooling via vented window apertures and intelligent roof vents
· Externally
insulted roof and highly insulted walls
· Solar powered wind
catches to maintain air flow
· Part grey water
system
· Modular
cascading boilers and intelligent Building Management System to manage energy
reduction
· Solar reflective
glass and reflective window blinds
Handover
of the building to the PCT is set for December 2008 and is currently ahead of
programme.
This building is
considered to be some 12 times more efficient than the previous Kentish Town
Health Centre.
- For all media enquiries please call Department
of Health newsdesk on 020 7210 5221.
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