We have refreshed our Green Plan, which sets out our strategy to meet our Net Zero Carbon targets by 2040. We are committed to delivering care that supports the health of both people and the environment.
Mental health and climate change are inextricably linked. The climate crisis is a health emergency that negatively impacts mental health and wellbeing. Healthcare is a major contributor to climate change because of its significant carbon footprint.
“Providing greener, more sustainable and net zero mental health care will not only help to reduce carbon emissions, wider environmental impacts and, potentially, the harmful effects of climate change, but in so doing, further escalation of mental health problems might be prevented.” Royal College of Psychiatrists
Working within the Care Without Carbon framework, our Green Plan sets out our aims, principles and actions to reach the Net Zero target, integrate sustainability values into our core business and ensure that the high-quality care we provide today is available tomorrow.
The key aims of our Green Plan
- Reduce our emissions to Net Zero Carbon by 2040/45.
- Adapt our services and buildings to the impacts of climate change.
- Address the environmental targets within the Environment Act 2021.
The NHS has committed to reaching Net Zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls directly and by 2045 for the emissions it influences.
Our refreshed Green Plan evolves our commitment to sustainable healthcare. We’re embedding sustainability principles into everyday clinical practice, putting them at the centre of how we plan, deliver and improve care. By capturing the wider benefits of sustainable and nature based care - financial savings, healthier staff and patients, and more resilient services, we can ensure our activity delivers impact that supports our vision and our five-year ambitions as a Trust.
Our vision through Care Without Carbon is to motivate and empower staff to take action for a greener NHS, collaborating to protect health, our environment and create lasting value for our NHS.
