The NHS is committed to becoming Net Zero. This means that the NHS aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to Zero.
Why is this important? Because the NHS is responsible for 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, or around 4% of the carbon emissions for the country. The NHS is the first national health system in the world to commit to becoming Net Zero, recognising the links between climate change and health.
Read more about NHS ambitions to become Net Zero here.
Our work so far
As Health Innovation Networks, our mission is to spread innovation at pace and scale, improving health and generating economic growth, and so supporting the NHS to reach Net Zero is critical to this mission.
We are excited that already through the SBRI initiative, £6 million has been awarded to 18 companies that will help to make the NHS greener. These companies have developed new ways to improve patient care, while also saving the NHS money. Three of those companies were supported by us at Health Innovation West of England.
If you’re a healthcare innovator, we have resources to help you. Check out our Innovation Exchange for expert advice and funding opportunities, including a section with a particular focus on Net Zero for innovators.
Net Zero will be made possible through innovation and collaboration, so we work with other Health Innovation Networks across England. The network hosts regular webinars on Net Zero topics with innovators from the forefront of sustainable practice. You can watch all our webinars on our YouTube playlist.
How Health Innovation Networks are supporting innovators to achieve Net Zero video.
At our annual conference in 2023 we held a panel discussion around Net Zero from the perspectives of innovators, researchers, and NHS partners. Read a summary of the discussions.
