NHS Greater Manchester sets out plans for Net Zero

NHS Greater Manchester has set out its plans for the city-region’s health and care system to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2038.

The Green Plan, produced by the newly formed NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership, sets out how the health and care system aims to eliminate its carbon footprint, equivalent to the annual average electricity use of over 276,000 homes, with nearly 800,000 kg of CO2 emissions to be cut in the next three years.

Initiatives outlined in the NHS Greater Manchester Green Plan will build on existing work and achievements and increase activity to accelerate meeting Net Zero targets. Activities will include:

• Continued expansion of digital technology in healthcare.
• Reducing travel, promoting sustainable travel and encouraging active travel, such as cycling or walking.
• Reducing carbon emissions from existing healthcare buildings and ensuring all new buildings are energy efficient.
• Reducing medicine waste and prescribing lower carbon alternatives.
• Buying sustainable and ethical food, whilst driving down waste.
• Taking an active role in the development of new green spaces and biodiversity.

Sarah Price, chief officer for health inequalities and population health and deputy chief executive for NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, said:

“Climate change is the single biggest threat to our planet, environment, and the people of Greater Manchester – especially our more vulnerable communities. As the first integrated care system to declare a climate emergency, we have already signalled our strong ambitions in this area.

“The establishment of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care provides an even greater opportunity to collaborate at scale to tackle system-level priorities, whilst building on existing local approaches.

“We’re already making great progress with the introduction of electric HGVs, the expansion of digital technology, reducing the use of single use plastics in hospital catering, support for voluntary sector green space projects to boost mental wellbeing – and many more.”