Achieving net-zero carbon care in general practice

Abstract

We live in times of rapid change: social, demographic, technological and economic. Media headlines are dominated by celebrity, conflict, and the cost of living. Given this state of affairs, it is easy to overlook change in other forms, in particular an overarching shift in planetary weather patterns. Climate change is believed to be progressing at an accelerated rate and poses one of the greatest threats to humanity in the 21st century. Greater awareness has been achieved over the past decade to persuade individuals of the grave consequences of even small global temperature rises. As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, society must re-focus efforts to understand and mitigate global warming effects before severe, irreversible damage ensues. The decisive measures undertaken in Western countries to manage the COVID-19 pandemic serve as an exemplar of how action can be taken to avert other crises, in this case committing to steps to avert climate change. The planet is 1.2 (cid:1) C warmer compared with pre-industrial levels, and the past 7 years have been the warmest on record. Similar trends have also been observed in atmospheric CO 2 levels, which are 50% higher than pre-industrial levels. Health services serve as focal points for change and improvement, as they are major contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The National Health Service (NHS) alone generated 24.9 mega tonnes CO 2 e in the year of 2020, with emission sources ranging from medication supply to the use of fossil fuels to power estates. The NHS’s goal of becoming the first net-zero carbon health service by 2040 is a step in the right direction and has formed the basis of many green policies within UK healthcare today. General practice is at the forefront of the NHS, delivering over 270,000,