Our commitment to reducing emissions and promoting sustainability

As a Trust, we’re committed to providing the safest, most compassionate and joined up care for our patients and our local populations. Climate change is the biggest single threat to the planet, the environment and human health this century and, with the NHS being responsible for 5% of the UK’s carbon emissions, we recognise both our significant environmental impact and the responsibility we have in promoting sustainability and reducing emissions.

Our first Green Plan was launched in 2021 and we are proud of the many achievements made through the hard work and commitment of colleagues across the organisation. We are able to see the outcome of this work through a reduction in our carbon dioxide emissions of 20% since 2019/20.

To build upon these achievements, we’ve updated our Green Plan for the period 2024 to 2027. This plan sets out the next steps on our journey as we seek to further embed sustainability in the organisation and reduce carbon emissions. Our vision is to be net zero by 2045 and this is a journey that requires us to come together and combine our efforts. The time to act is now. We all have a role to play in this important journey and I invite you to join the work that we have begun, to support us to deliver our goals and to challenge us to go further in the years ahead.
 

We have electric vehicle charging points in our visitor car parks at University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland Hospital.