Updated NHS Green Plan guidance

The impact of climate change will be expensive for society and the NHS, with the costs of heat-related mortalities from climate change estimated at £6.8 billion per year in the 2020s, rising to £14.7 billion per year in the 2050s.

In 2020, the NHS became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching net zero emissions. The Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report set out the scale of ambition. The Health and Care Act 2022 reinforced this commitment, placing new duties on integrated care boards (ICBs), NHS trusts and foundation trusts (referred to collectively in this guidance as trusts) to consider statutory emissions and environmental targets in their decisions.

Trusts and ICBs are expected to meet these duties through the delivery of board-approved green plans.

These plans now need to be refreshed in line with this statutory guidance by 31 July 2025.

NHS England has provided updated Green Plan guidance supports systems and trusts to refresh their green plans for the next 3-year cycle with the aim of:

• prioritising interventions that support world-leading patient care and population health, and reduce inequalities, while tackling climate change and broader sustainability issues
• supporting NHS organisations to plan and make considered investments while increasing efficiencies and delivering value for taxpayers
• ensuring every NHS organisation supports the ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions, reflecting learning from delivery to date

Square Gain, with our healthcare partner Archus provide support for ICBs and Trusts to review current Green Plans, benchmark against best practice and provide practical guidance on the steps to take to help improve carbon reduction and climate resilience.  Please contact us for more information or to set up an initial call.