CWP Welcomes Plans To Slash NHS Carbon Footprint

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 19 Feb 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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A local mental health Trust in Chester is taking the lead after the launch of this week's NHS strategy to cut carbon emissions. Saving Carbon, Improving Health, the NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy for England sets the ambition for the NHS, including Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), to drive change toward a low carbon society and pinpoints key actions for the NHS to take to become a leading sustainable and low carbon organisation.

Jeannie Metcalfe-Hall, CWP environment officer, says: "Sustainable development is important to CWP and we are committed to investigating and implementing low carbon and sustainable initiatives wherever possible.

CWP has already developed a sustainable environment strategy for the Trust which is being led at Board level and in every area of the Trust through "green champions". Last year the Trust successfully participated in the "100 days of carbon clean up" and this year we are concentrating on re-use initiatives that link in local authorities and partners, with further plans in place designed to improve energy efficiency in our buildings."

The Trust recently joined forces with an international recycling scheme to combat office waste and support the National Women Farmers Association (NAWFA) in West Africa.

The NHS has a carbon footprint of 18 million tonnes of CO2 per year and it is the largest public sector contributor to climate change in Europe. This strategy will help the NHS achieve an enormous cut in carbon emissions, a reduction of at least 80 per cent by 2050, ensuring it is leading low carbon and sustainable organisation and meets the Climate Change Act requirements.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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