The climate emergency is a healthcare emergency. Without urgent action, the progress made in improving public health in the last 50 years is at risk.
Climate change and an unhealthy environment have a direct and negative impact on our health and wellbeing such as causing heart problems, mental health issues, asthma and cancer.
The UK government wants the UK to become a low-carbon economy, with net zero emissions by 2050. As part of this, the NHS aims to reach ‘net zero’ emissions for the care we provide by 2040, and zero emissions across all services and areas by 2045.
At a local level, our system has a Hertfordshire and West Essex sustainability Green Plan which shows how we will work with local communities and our staff to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare services.
Read the Green Plan