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NHS Sustainable Development 2010 - One Future, Different Paths

"As the biggest public sector employer in the country, the NHS needs to lead by example. I want to encourage NHS staff to really get involved and do their bit to create a greener NHS."

"I want to thank our partners who have signed up to support us to become a leading low carbon organisation. It is by working hard both within NHS trusts and with our partners that we can make the biggest impact on our carbon footprint."

David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS at the launch of the 'Saving Carbon Improving Lives' Strategy Improving Lives Strategy

GovToday presents NHS Sustainable Development 2010 - One Future, Different Paths, Conference and Exhibition, which will be held at Church House Conference Centre on 3rd February 2010.

NHS Sustainable Development 2010 - One Future, Different Paths will examine the overall Sustainable Development strategy for the NHS - an all-encompassing remit, which takes into account social, environmental and economic development - and how this interlinks with/impacts upon current Government policy to reduce the UK's carbon emissions under the Climate Change Act 2008; creating a sustainable NHS legacy for the future.

This event will identify the progress to date and define the challenges moving forward, featuring those key individuals and stakeholders at the forefront of shaping policy and best practice regarding this agenda.

At the launch of Saving Carbon, Improving Health: The NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England in January 2009, NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson and NHS Sustainable Development Unit Director, Dr.David Pencheon, pledged that the NHS will become one of England's leading sustainable and low carbon organisations and will meet the Government's target of an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

The NHS is the largest single estate in Europe, employing 5 per cent of the UK workforce, with a very large carbon footprint, producing more than 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year - 3.2 per cent of carbon emissions and 25 per cent of public sector emissions in England - the largest public sector contributor to climate change.

Analysis has revealed that carbon emissions from the NHS can be broken down, consisting of:

  • Energy 22 per cent
  • Travel 18 per cent
  • Procurement 60 per cent.

With the significant environmental impact of its built estate responsible for:

  • Consuming 45 Million GJ of energy
  • Generating 3.4 Million tonnes of CO2 emissions
  • Using 40 Million m3 of water

Moreover, despite increases in efficiency, the NHS has increased its carbon footprint by 40 per cent since 1990.

In order to meet its obligations under the Climate Change Act, the NHS needs to embed sustainable practices across the sector - people, procurement and processes. The urgency of the problem means this process must begin immediately - "there is no room for failure".

Consequently, NHS Sustainable Development 2010 - One Future, Different Paths will present both a forum for discussion and the dissemination of learning and best practice to date, providing a much-needed platform for defining the barriers to progress and the solutions moving forward.