Our Trust declares a Climate Emergency
Nottinghamshire Healthcare has joined other public sector organisations by officially declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’. The declaration made by the Board on 31 October 2019 sends a clear message that the Trust recognises the threat posed to public health by climate change and that it is fully committed to its carbon reduction plans, which will ensure that the health of those who use and deliver our services will be protected.
The Trust acknowledges that it must be bold in its ambitions to do things differently and commits to investigating new, innovative practices and service delivery models that offer solutions which are fit for purpose in response to the changing climate.
Dr John Brewin, Chief Executive of the Trust commented: “The Board recognises that each one of us, as well as the organisations we work for, need to take climate change seriously and do our bit, individually and collectively, to make a difference. I am delighted to support this important work and look forward to working with our staff to achieve these goals.”
By declaring a climate emergency, the Trust has committed to:
1) Achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 for its own emissions working to transition service delivery to zero carbon prior to the government deadline of 2050.
2) Agree to work collaboratively with neighbouring organisations, NHS Trusts, partners, providers and other public bodies to agree individual and collective actions to deliver this ambition.
3) Include climate change as a risk on the Trust Board Assurance Framework.
Trust Environmental and Sustainability Manager Lynn Walker said ‘This declaration is a very important step in our journey towards delivering sustainable and resilient healthcare. Never have the impacts of climate change been so readily demonstrated, and on such a scale, that they are hard to ignore. It is essential that we, and the wider NHS plan and deliver meaningful, system wide change that will protect the health of our patients, the wider population and the planet’
Some of our most successful achievements in 2019 include:
- signing up 68 teams in the first year of Green Impact;
- changing contracts to enable the procurement of renewable electricity;
- reaching over 500 Green Champions;
- encouraging sustainable staff travel through the cycle to work scheme and public transport discounts;
- installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure at 8 Trust sites and investing in electric vehicles for our Transport and Logistics and IT teams;
- securing over 200 trees from the Woodland Trust for planting next year;
- introducing for the first time an Environmental Impact Award category to the Trust OSCARS (Outstanding Service Contribution and Recognition Scheme)
- becoming the first NHS Trust to become a Corporate Member of IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment).
Nottinghamshire Healthcare is also the first healthcare provider within the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System to declare a climate emergency and it is hoped that others will do so too.
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