The Climate Emergency is recognised as the single greatest threat to global health. In June 2019, Newcastle Hospitals became the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a Climate Emergency. This is our recognition that a climate emergency is a health emergency and a commitment to becoming a net-zero carbon organisation by 2040.
By joining forces with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University we have created a civic partnership resulting in Newcastle upon Tyne being the first city in the UK to have all three anchor institutions declare a climate emergency and commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
Together we have committed to improving the health, wealth and wellbeing of our local population and tackling climate change is a shared priority for us all.
Our vision, long-term goals and priority actions for the next five years are set out in our Climate Emergency Strategy. And our Shine report for 2020-2021 outlines our overall performance, including our total carbon footprint for the year. Find out more about sustainability at Newcastle Hospitals here.
Watch our short video animation below to hear about our Climate Emergency commitments and our Shine work:
New initiative to improve air quality around hospitals and community health hubs
Poor air quality in the UK is an increasing health concern and is adding to the burden on the NHS. Approximately 30% of preventable deaths in England are due to non-communicable diseases specifically connected to air pollution. Unless air quality is improved, the health and social care costs of air pollution in England could reach £18.6 billion by 2035.
Over the past six months, the environmental change charity Global Action Plan has been working closely with the UK’s leading sustainability ICS, in the North East and North Cumbria region (NENC), to identify the opportunities to drive meaningful change around air quality improvement at healthcare access points. By making sure air quality levels are controlled around health centres, this project is helping to protect the people who need to visit hospitals most frequently.
As part of the project, Newcastle Hospitals has already committed to ensuring all employees will be given basic sustainability training, that green procurement will be embedded across the organisation and will encourage all ICS members to switch to a renewable energy tariff.