New Green Plan launched for a greener CLCH
CLCH has launched its new Green Plan, covering the period between 2024 to 2026.
The Green Plan sets out our vision and the actions that we will take over the next three years, to support Trust and national NHS targets for carbon reduction. We will be prioritising interventions which will simultaneously improve staff, patient and community wellbeing while tackling climate change and broader sustainability issues across all the CLCH footprint.
Preparing the Green Plan 2024-26, we engaged with staff across the Trust about how to continue our journey reducing our impact on the environment and becoming a greener organisation. Their feedback and ideas have been extremely valuable and helped inform the Plan.
Our Green Plan sets out clear decarbonisation targets for the next three years, attached to a number of key areas including clinical waste reduction, green spaces development, travel and transport, procurement, medicines, estates and facilities, and food and nutrition.
This Green Plan signals CLCH's commitment for change, and outlines the progress made to date around key environmental priorities as well as how the Trust is gearing up to deliver its sustainability objectives in the future, driving improvement across every part of the organisation which delivers healthcare to communities within the CLCH footprint.
The Green Plan also sets out our intention to continue collaborating closely with other NHS and regional partners and, in particular, with West London NHS Trust with whom we have formed a strategic partnership for sustainability and a joint team.
Tom Wright, Director of Sustainability at CLCH and West London NHS Trust said:
“Sustainability in healthcare is essential, and we are committed to having a positive impact on both the planet and our local communities.
“The launch couldn’t be more timely as it links in with our “Gloves Off” campaign which aims to reduce the number of unnecessary non-sterile gloves used as one pair of non-sterile gloves takes 52g of CO2e to produce.
“The links between climate change, biodiversity loss and human health are clear. Our plan details the actions CLCH will take in support of the NHS’s ambition to be net zero carbon by 2045.”
Elizabeth Hale, Director of Communications and Improvement said: “We provide community health care to a population of 4 million people living in communities across 11 London boroughs and Hertfordshire and will continue to do so for future generations.
"Our Green Plan outlines our response to the health emergency that climate change brings and confirms our firm commitment to our local ambitions and targets.
“Every decision we take and every choice we make from this point onwards must contribute to delivering a net zero NHS.”
CLCH is committed to working with patients, staff, local communities, and partners to ensure that our organisation continues its path toward a cleaner, greener, healthier, and more equitable future. We will be reducing our environmental impact and providing sustainable healthcare to ensure better health for future generations.
