NHS carbon footprint
The latest NHS Carbon Footprint data (2012) shows that carbon emissions for NHS England have stopped rising and are leveling off. The latest NHS Carbon Footprint was calculated as part of the SDU's
Sustainability in the NHS: Health Check 2012 publication and has been used in the Carbon Reduction Strategy
The NHS carbon footprint now stands at 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (MtCO2e) – using 2010 data.
This is a drop of one million tonnes compared to the last time the footprint was calculated in 2007.
The footprint (in a basic form) is composed of building energy (24%), travel (17%) and procurement (59%).
There are a number of reasons why emissions have stopped rising. These are down to NHS organisations cutting carbon, improvements in NHS building energy efficiency and also because of the NHS health service spending review.
However, there is still a long way to go. The current trajectory shows that by 2020 the NHS will only have managed to achieve a 9.8% (2.1 MtCO2e) drop in emissions. A further 24.2% (5.06 MtCO2e) reduction is required to meet the 34% reduction stipulated in law.
How the NHS Carbon Footprint is measured - MtCO2e.
The NHS England carbon footprint is measured in CO2 equivalent (CO2e).CO2e refers to six greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide; Hydrofluorocarbons; Methane; Nitrous oxide; Perfluorocarbons and Sulphur hexafluoride. Measuring NHS emissions in this way is in line in with latest conventions and means the six greenhouse gases can be compared on a like for like basis relative to one unit of CO2.
Building energy use, waste and water maps
The NHS SDU and the Eastern Region Public Health Observatory (Erpho) have been working together to provide simple maps to show energy, waste and water use. These are available to download below.
We now know that the NHS in England produces 21 million tonnes of CO2e a year and reducing these emissions forms an integral part of sustainable development. Understanding the contribution from each NHS organisation is an important step in reducing carbon emissions.
NHS organisations report use of energy (fossil fuels and electricity) in buildings, volumes of waste produced and volume of water in the Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC).
Erpho has combined ERIC information with Defra conversion factors for building energy, waste and water and the change from 2007/08 to 2010/11 has been mapped for each region.
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Maps showing NHS reduction in building energy, water and waste
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Goods and Services Carbon Hotspots report
Research in 2010 by NHS Sustainable Development Unit showed the NHS carbon footprint was dominated by procurement with 65% of the footprint attributed to the goods and services procured .
A study in 2012 focussed specifically on the procurement of goods and services. The study identifies carbon hotspots in the supply chain comparing the carbon contribution of 18 categories of goods and services against six different NHS organisation types (acute, primary care and community services, mental health, ambulance services, specialist services and Strategic Health Authorities).
Key findings of the study include:
Pharmaceuticals are 22% of the NHS England carbon footprint of which:
79% is primary care and community services
13% is acute services and 5% is mental health services
Medical instruments are 13% of the NHS England carbon footprint of which:
75% is acute service
13% is primary care and community services
Building energy use (gas and electricity) is 18% of the NHS England carbon footprint of which:
72% is in acute services
51% of which is electricity consumption
45% of which is gas consumption
The full report and an Executive Summary can be downloaded below.
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Full 40 page report identifying carbon hotspots in the supply chain comparing the carbon contribution of 18 categories of goods and services against six different NHS organisation types (acute, primary care and community services, mental health, ambulance services, specialist services and Strategic Health Authorities).
Download Document
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6 page summary of a study that identifies carbon hotspots in the supply chain comparing the carbon contribution of 18 categories of goods and services against six different NHS organisation types (acute, primary care and community services, mental health, ambulance services, specialist services and Strategic Health Authorities).
Download Document