Our net-zero carbon pledge

In January 2022, our Trust Board of Directors approved a Green Plan committing us to achieving two ambitious carbon targets, to ensure we do our bit to support the NHS becoming the first carbon neutral health system in the world;

  1. To be net-zero carbon by 2040 for our Carbon Footprint, with an ambition for an 80% reduction (compared with a 1990 baseline) by 2028 to 2032.
  2. To be net-zero carbon by 2045 for our Carbon Footprint Plus, with an ambition for an 80% reduction (compared with a 1990 baseline) by 2036 to 2039.

A timeline shows the plans the Trust has for delivering net zero by 2045

 

What do these targets mean?

The NHS breaks its CO2 emissions down into a Carbon Footprint, and a Carbon Footprint Plus.

The Carbon Footprint relates to how we heat and power our buildings, and how we manage water, waste, business travel and inhalers and anaesthetic gases.

The Carbon Footprint Plus also includes the carbon connected to the medicines and products we use, our buildings, how people travel to our sites and services we provide.

You can see how our emissions break down through our carbon pie .

A graphic shows how various parts of our emissions contribution to our carbon footprint and footprint plus