In October 2020, the UK's National Health Service released its ambitious strategy [PDF] to become the world’s first 'net zero' national health service. Even amid the myriad pressures of coronavirus, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens made clear that the climate emergency is one of the most significant health issues to be tackled. In his words: “With poor environmental health contributing to major diseases, including cardiac problems, asthma and cancer, our efforts must be accelerated.”
As the largest employer in Britain, responsible for around 4 per cent of the nation's carbon emissions, it is clear that the will for a net-zero NHS is there. At the same time, with an ageing population and constant concerns over the costs of delivering high-quality care, the NHS is facing a perfect storm of challenges. What, then, is the relationship between net-zero strategies and the NHS’s other competing priorities? Is there a way healthcare leaders could...