World leaders will meet between 28th November and 12th December to discuss tackling climate change at the 28th annual United Nations climate meeting, COP28.
Starting on 30th November and running until 12th December, COP28 will host governments from around the world, all of whom represent countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992, as they discuss how to limit and prepare for climate change in the future.
For its part the UK has pledged to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions it produces to net zero by 2050, and the NHS is a key part of this ambition.
“Nationally the NHS has set two targets. Firstly, for emissions the NHS controls directly, it will reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032,” explains Sarah Connery, Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. “Secondly, for the emissions we can influence, we will reach net zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039.”
Net zero means a country takes the equivalent amount of planet warming gases out of the atmosphere as it puts in. For an organisation as complex and large as the NHS this is particularly challenging. However, fortunately the NHS has more than a decade of expertise and progress in sustainable healthcare, and has established an NHS Net Zero Expert Panel, which has reviewed nearly 600 pieces of evidence and conducted extensive analysis and modelling.
“The targets we have set nationally are ambitious but realistic, and are supported by immediate action and a commitment to continuous monitoring, evaluation and innovation. This translates to us taking action locally as a system, so that we can make our own contribution to these targets,” comments Sarah.
“In Lincolnshire, we are constantly looking at how we can reduce our impact, for example, through the installation of electric vehicle charging points, teaming up with a textile recycler to recycle old uniforms, and delivering a proportion of community contacts through digital means. We are also fortunate to have a number of ‘green champions’ across the health system in the county, who are helping us to spread the word to our staff.”
COP28 is particularly important since it is hoped it will keep alive the ambition to limit long-term global temperature rises to 1.5C, as previously agreed by nearly 200 countries. However, globally we are on track for about 2.5C of warming by 2100, even with the current pledges to take action.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COP28 is expected to raise the profile of the link between climate and health, and COP28 working with the WHO will be organising the first ever health day to focus on this link.
“We have much to do both nationally and here in Lincolnshire, but we recognise the benefits that the targets and ambitions the NHS has set will bring, especially in the long-term for a coastal county like ours, which is not immune to the health harms and impacts of climate change,” adds Sarah.