UK unveils major blueprint to spend £1bn to cut emissions from industry, schools and hospitals

The new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy sets the vision for the world’s first low carbon industrial sector, slashing emissions by two-thirds in just 15 years

Dangerous levels of air pollution in quarter of England’s hospitals

New research suggests around 10.5 million patients a year could be exposed to toxic air pollution when they visit hospitals in the UK

London’s air pollution led to 4,000 people hospitalised in three years

That’s four people, including a child, admitted every day as a result of poor air quality

New air quality monitors for 10 London hospitals

They will provide real-time air quality measurements that will enable health professionals to take appropriate action

Engine idling near schools should be banned, says Public Health England

Air pollution is considered the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure

NHS “should haggle with energy suppliers more”

There is “room” for the NHS to scrutinise its deals with energy suppliers, says the campaign manager of a new awards recognising the green efforts of NHS hospitals. Scott Buckler at the NHS Sustainability Awards told ELN there are some “great examples” of NHS Trusts saving energy. In an interview about the awards, he suggests […]

Hospitals jockey for NHS Sustainability awards

Hospitals in the National Health Service are invited to enter an awards scheme recognising the best projects for saving energy and cutting waste. Free to enter, the NHS Sustainability Awards are backed by Barts Health Trust and the Sustainable Development Unit. There’s less than a month until the deadline, 5 February 2015, with winners announced […]

Is the NHS ready for climate change?

Hospitals are being asked to share how prepared they are – if at all – for climate change by the NHS’s Sustainable Development Unit (SDU). The query comes after warnings nine in ten hospital wards are at risk of overheating because of climate change-related rising temperatures. The worrying research for the Committee on Climate Change […]

NHS energy managers branded “waste of money”

Energy managers in the NHS have been branded a “waste” of public money by the Taxpayers’ Alliance. The group slammed the NHS for “unnecessary” jobs in public relations, the EU and ‘green’ staff. It also took a pop at roles ranging from sustainability and energy management, claiming the NHS was employing at least 86 ‘green’ […]

Hospitals to scrub up their ‘green’ plans

British hospitals have new guidelines to go green including cutting carbon emissions from making medicines and sending far fewer inhalers to landfill. Yesterday the Sustainable Development Unit, the body tasked with helping the healthcare sector cut 34% of its emissions by 2020, released broad plans to target five areas for improvement. The Sustainable Development Strategy […]