Delivering sustainable healthcare has been on the sector’s agenda for many years following a report from Brundtland in 1987, that urged the industry to use resources wisely in order to preserve the environment and habitats that future generations need for survival. Yet it was the COVID-19 pandemic that finally brought widespread attention to the truly harmful repercussions of wasteful healthcare resources and wider environmental challenges that are having direct and immediate health consequences for society as a whole.
The recent discussions during COP26 also highlighted the need for a more sustainable healthcare approach globally. For example, a group of
50 countries have committed to developing climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems in response to growing evidence of the impact of climate change on people’s health.
In addition, NHS England has committed to becoming net-zero by 2045. However, with global health systems accounting for around
5% of total greenhouse gas emissions, this will not be an easy ask and will require the coming together of many parties to achieve one goal.