Environment and Sustainability
The NHS is one of the largest contributors to the UK’s carbon footprint and as such the NHS has the potential to play a leading role in protecting and promoting the health of the community.
On 1 July 2022, the NHS became the first health system to embed net zero into legislation, through the Health and Care Act 2022. This places duties on NHS England, and all trusts, foundation trusts, and integrated care boards to contribute towards statutory emissions and environmental targets. The Act requires commissioners and providers of NHS services specifically to address the net zero emissions targets. It also covers measures to adapt to any current or predicted impacts of climate change identified within the 2008 Climate Change Act. To support NHS England’s net zero ambition, each trust and integrated care system should have a Green Plan which sets out clear aims, objectives, and delivery plans for carbon reduction.
By reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable practices and encouraging healthier lifestyles KMPT are able to help in the fight against climate change, save money and achieve a wealth of health benefits.
Our commitment to change
KMPT is committed to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040 and improving our sustainability credentials. We understand the challenges ahead of us and are prepared to tackle these issues head on.
Strategies
Here are 4 ways that we plan to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions and improve our sustainability credentials.
Embedding sustainability
- Making sure Sustainability is a part of our shared organisational vision, mainstream strategy and plans.
- Ensuring there is adequate Leadership and board oversight of our Net Zero Green Plan
- Making it is everyone’s role and responsibility to make environmentally conscious and sustainable choices at work.
- Communicating this shared agenda across all the organisation services and operations
Direct emissions
- To manage and improve resources and facilities to increase efficiency, ensure environmental compliance and eliminate waste.
- To align the Net Zero Green Plan with the Trust Estates Strategy to ensure future plans are aligned with the decarbonisation plans
- Encourage staff to be aware of their energy consumption on sites
Partnership working
- Forming meaningful relationships with private and public sector organisations and the local community to design adaptation strategies and transform services to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.
- To enable greater alignment at system level with other NHS / ICS Green Plans
- Working with other public sector organisations such as Kent County Council to achieve more efficiency savings and better outcomes for the environment
Travel
- Reduce the need for unnecessary carbon-based travel with effective patient pathway design
- Implementation and ongoing encouragement of take up of active travel initiatives e.g. cycle to work
- Promotion of the use of remote communications platforms and support the Digital transformation workstream
- Transition plans to ensure implementation of EV charging infrastructure is installed across the Trust hospital sites
