How Can UK Hospitals Transform to Net Zero Carbon Emissions?

Abstract

Hospital-based healthcare is the most carbon intensive component of healthcare delivery. Mitigation in the face of the climate and ecological crises is urgent and required under law in England, yet comprehensive guidance is lacking. This review summarizes-by sector of emissions-current evidence on strategies that hospital trust executive boards can take to deliver decarbonisation. We identify variable maturity of evidence available per hospital speciality and emissions sector, limited translation of successful case studies across the sector and a lack of comprehensive guidance or policy to drive large-scale change. Strategies for hospitals to implement change need to be accompanied by cultural shifts in approaches to environmental sustainability backed up by leadership, governance and financial commitments. Crucially, long-term financial savings offered through environmental sustainability investments ought to be a driver, not a barrier, to change.