Bristol hospitals declare climate emergency

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust are among the first NHS organisations in the UK to declare a climate emergency.

Recognising the impact climate change is having on the world, the declaration highlights a clear and positive commitment to tackle climate change and the effects on the health of our population.

To lead the way in healthcare in the city, the two trusts have set ambitious goals to become carbon neutral by 2030. Harnessing the huge enthusiasm of more than 20,000 staff, the organisations have pledged to take action on: single use plastics; recycling and disposal of waste; greenhouse gas impact of anaesthetics; energy use for heating and lighting; energy from sustainable sources; water use; vehicle emissions from staff and patient travel and goods deliveries; sustainable food sourcing; and encouraging staff, patients and local residents to lead greener, healthier lives.

Andrea Young, chief executive of the North Bristol NHS Trust, said: "The NHS is the biggest organisation and employer in Bristol, and as a major buyer of goods and services, we are uniquely a big part of the problem and of the solution. To provide high quality care the NHS uses huge amounts of energy, food, water, medicine and equipment - all of which contribute to our carbon footprint. We can also harness the power of thousands of staff who are highly motivated to make a difference and improve people's lives. We want to publically acknowledge the huge threat of climate change, do as much as possible to tackle it ourselves and, as anchors in our community, encourage collaborative action."

Robert Woolley, chief executive of the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, added: "Preventing avoidable illness, promoting health and wellbeing and being operationally resilient are all fundamental to the future of the NHS. Taking more action now to protect the environment will help us to meet all of these aims, as there is strong evidence about the impact of climate change on health.

"We've set ambitious targets to become carbon neutral by 2030, and are already taking major steps in this area, including investing in more sustainable lighting and heating. Lots of our staff are already involved in many ways from taking more sustainable transport options to get to and from work to looking at the changes they can make, however small, to be more environmentally-friendly in their areas of work. The quicker we can take action on climate change, the quicker we'll improve the health of people right now as well as for future generations."