How will we all in the NHS achive our 34% carbon Reduction by 2020

5-May-2009 9:59 am

The executive Board carries the carbon reduction target responsibility. There should be a carbon reduction strategy in place or being developed now. Complience with legislation is a first step. Any hospital or trust that does not have a carbon reduction strategy should should start to engage with estates and facilities managment to ensure early stages of the strategy for energy and the estate are in place. There should also be within the strategy, the identifiacation of the "champions" who will take responsibility for the other key areas of the "reducing Carbon-Improving Health" Report such as Ptrocurement and Food, Finance, Transport and access, Waste, Energy and carbon management, Water, Governence. The built environment, and the People element of organisational and workflow development.

Many Hospital and Trist Boards will need the support of external organisations to support them in developing their strategy and implementation of the plan. Organisations such as the Carbon Health Network ( 0845 121 4238) are there to help support Trusts and Carbon Reduction Management develop strategies and plans and implement them.

Remebmber also that the recent Budget increased the reductioin target to 34%, therefore even if you had an existing Carbon management plan, it will need to be revisited to ensure that it is sufficiently able to accomodate the new 34% reduction target in the timeframe.

Boards doing nothing on Carbon Reduction is not an option - it is a legal requirement