NHS carbon emissions
The NHS contributes around 5% of the UK’s total carbon emissions and accounts for around 4% of all road miles travelled nationally.
To address this challenge, and reduce its climate impact, the NHS is committed to becoming the world's first net zero carbon National Health Service.
These diagrams show the elements that make up NHS carbon emissions, measured in tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). This is the carbon "footprint".
NHS Carbon Footprint includes CO₂e emissions that are produced from building energy, water, waste processes, anaesthetics, inhalers and business travel. The NHS Footprint PLUS includes the emissions associated with products and services that we purchase.
Action on carbon
What steps have we taken?
Since 2023 we have made significant investments into energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures including:
Switching to LED lighting across our sites
Implementing a high efficiency and biomass boiler plant
Expanding combined heat and power generation
Enhancing insulation
Upgrading and optimising our ventilation plant
Introducing water saving technologies
We also cut emissions from travel and transport via increased use of electric vehicles, and spearheaded initiatives to measure and minimise clinical carbon emissions, such as a pilot project to capture and recycle anaesthetic gases.
What’s next?
We will deliver a programme of energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects across our estate, prioritising actions that cut emissions, reduce costs, and support high-quality patient care.
One focus will be on improving heating systems to boost efficiency and lower emissions. We will also expand initiatives to reduce CO₂e across clinical activities, such as through Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) projects.
To achieve our Carbon Footprint PLUS goal, we are developing a 10-year investment plan, prioritising projects that deliver the greatest savings and impact.