The Earth Day 2022 (22 April) theme is ‘Invest in Our Planet’ asking people, organisations and governments to accelerate solutions to combat climate change. Here at CHP, we have an ambitious Green Plan which sets out the changes we are making to support a #GreenerNHS, #InvestInOurPlanet and tackle climate change.
The CHP Green Plan ‘A Greener CHP, a Greener NHS’ outlines how we are working with customers, LIFTCos, ICSs and suppliers to contribute to the NHS net zero carbon ambitions. As part of the NHS family, we are supporting the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Since NHS healthcare estates and facilities account for around 15% of all NHS carbon emissions, we must work together on carbon reduction and other sustainability initiatives.
Climate change poses a major threat to our health. Tackling climate change by reducing harmful carbon emissions will improve health and save the lives of many. Thanks to the efforts of staff up and down the country, the NHS has reduced emissions across medicines, transport and the NHS estate. Crucially, many of these changes are already improving care today, as well as the health and wellbeing of staff, patients and the public.
How CHP is investing for a Greener NHS
Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims within our CHP Business Plan 2022/23 and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars.
We are embedding our Green Plan into our business, committing resources, people and the actions we will take to ensure it is a success. CHP supports its staff to get involved in the Greener NHS ‘Healthier Planet, Healthier People’ staff engagement campaign. This campaign highlights the link between our health and that of the environment. Everyone at CHP can play their part to meet our sustainability goals and we are supporting our staff to make changes.
CHP Green Plan ‘A Greener CHP, a Greener NHS’
In our CHP Green Plan we have set out a clear direction, where we want to be and how we are working towards common goals for sustainability, including supporting the Greener NHS net zero targets.
Our Green Plan objectives include:
- Corporate CHP to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030
- LIFT Portfolio to be Net Zero Carbon by 2040
- Meet our annual reporting requirements and obligations as a landlord, such as the minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) and energy performance certificates (EPC).
We set out a roadmap against three themes:
- Embedding the Green Plan
- Digital and data
- LIFTCo Partnerships
In 2022 we are working on delivery plans, actions and targets. CHP is playing its part by installing LED lights, improving recycling facilities at our buildings, upgrading communal planting and gardens including planting trees. In addition, we have plans for more electric car charging points, bike storage and encouraging sustainable transport at our primary care buildings.
Read our Green Plan: A Greener CHP, a Greener NHS (PDF)
Foleshill Health Centre – An example for future sustainable healthcare buildings
CHP is leading the way for a greener NHS, designing, funding and building Foleshill Health Centre in Coventry, the first Passivhaus health care building in the UK.
Watch: Foleshill Health Centre timelapse video
Read: Foleshill Case study
News and awards: Foleshill Health Centre
NHS net zero
- By 2040 the NHS will reduce the emissions they control to net zero, saving lives and improving the world we live in.
- By 2045 the NHS will reduce the emissions it can influence to net zero. These are the emissions that are related to the goods and services we buy from partners and suppliers.
Since 2010, the NHS has cut its carbon emissions by 30%. The changes the NHS are making to tackle climate change at source are improving the quality of the care provided today, as well as saving money that can be reinvested in care. (Greener NHS).
22 April 2022
Read
Greener NHS www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/
Earth Day 2022 www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/
