Current Landscape
The NHS faces both ambitious targets and pressing challenges as it works toward a sustainable, net-zero future. It has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 for the NHS Carbon Footprint, covering emissions within its direct control, and by 2045 for the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, which includes emissions it can influence indirectly. Despite significant progress, a major hurdle remains the need for more capital investment to support and accelerate sustainability initiatives.
As Lord Darzi has observed, there is no trade-off between climate responsibility and healthcare quality; in fact, these goals are mutually reinforcing. Cleaner air, for example, supports environmental health and reduces respiratory issues in patients.
Another key milestone in NHS sustainability efforts includes a new mandate for the ambulance fleet, requiring all new purchases to be zero-emission by 2030, with the entire fleet achieving this standard by 2040. This will require extensive transformation across the NHS's operations and infrastructure, signalling the vast scale of commitment required to reach these net-zero goals.
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.
