Supporting a Sustainable NHS – A Pillar of the Fit for the Future Health System
As part of Fit for the Future: A 10-Year Health Plan for England, the NHS remains committed to delivering on its core sustainability objectives. Central to this vision is the goal of achieving net zero emissions for activities under direct NHS control by 2040, and for emissions the NHS can influence by 2045. These targets are fundamental to building a resilient, future-ready healthcare system.
The NHS continues to demonstrate leadership in the transition to clean energy, working in partnership with Great British Energy to expand solar power use across NHS and wider public sector estates. This collaboration highlights a broader commitment to decarbonising the health system and supporting the national shift to renewable energy.
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, all NHS organisations are now required to decarbonise operations, reduce environmental impact, and enhance climate resilience in line with statutory climate duties. These measures are essential not only to mitigating the effects of climate change but also to promoting long-term public health.
The NHS is at a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey. While progress toward net zero has already begun, reaching these ambitious goals will demand increased investment, bold innovation, and system-wide transformation. From infrastructure and service delivery to procurement and digital technologies, every facet of the NHS must evolve to meet the demands of a changing climate.
As Lord Darzi has emphasized, there is no contradiction between climate action and high-quality care. In fact, they go hand in hand—cleaner air, greener environments, and lower emissions all contribute to improved patient outcomes and reduced strain on healthcare services.
Importance and Timeliness of the Event
The NHS Sustainability Conference arrives at a pivotal moment, as the NHS intensifies its commitment to achieving ambitious net-zero targets while addressing the growing impact of climate change on public health. With the NHS responsible for around 4% of the UK’s carbon emissions, its role in the national drive for sustainability is critical.
This event serves as a unique platform for healthcare leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to collaborate, share innovations, and tackle key challenges such as capital funding, emissions from healthcare operations, and sustainable infrastructure development. The conference is especially timely, as the NHS faces complex challenges—from reducing harmful nitrous oxide emissions in hospitals to transitioning to a zero-emission ambulance fleet by 2040.
Key Content Streams:
- Pathways to Net Zero: Explore strategies for achieving NHS net-zero goals by 2040/2045, focusing on overcoming funding challenges to implement sustainable technologies.
- Decarbonising NHS Healthcare Estates: through Green Energy, Infrastructure Retrofits, Sustainable Design, and Emission Reductions Zero-Emission
- Ambulance Fleet: Examine plans to make all new ambulances zero-emission by 2030, and the entire fleet by 2040, covering infrastructure needs and funding.
- Synergy of Health and Climate Goals: Highlight how climate action supports public health, reducing burdens like respiratory illness, and reinforcing NHS’s role in environmental and patient well-being.
- Discussing effective strategies to promote sustainability in healthcare: by engaging healthcare professionals in sustainable practices and encouraging patient involvement in environmental conservation.
