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SDC publish NHS carbon statistics

The NHS has produced an NHS England Carbon Reduction Strategy, as part of a broader sustainable development agenda. To support this process, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has completed a carbon footprinting study - covering all NHS England Estates and activities - in conjunction with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

The report (pdf, 34 pages) can be downloaded from here. Some fascinating figures, including the fact that building energy accounts for only 22% of the carbon footprint.

the total 2004 NHS England CO2 emissions were estimated to be 18.61MtCO2. This compares to overall UK and England consumption emissions calculated in the SEI report as follows:
• 2.7% of total UK emissions (699MtCO2)

by removing NHS staff/patient/visitor travel, the resultant emissions value (18.61- 2.67 = 15.94MtCO2) can be compared to UK and England public sector consumption emissions thus:
• 30% of the whole of the England Public Sector emissions (54MtCO2).

Issues to be included in the future include:

Pharmaceutical emissions: Targeting wastage of pharmaceuticals could have a key impact. For example, a 10% reduction in pharmaceuticals consumption would lower overall emissions by 2%. Thus is roughly the same reduction as the 2000-2010 building energy reduction target of 0.15MtC.
Building energy sub-metering: There are already site level studies and projects underway to estimate health facility breakdowns of electricity and heating/hot water energy consumption (eg BRE). The NHS should begin a roll out programme of sub metering of NHS facilities, including the return of sub-metering data via ERIC. This will enable understanding of NHS energy consumption in more detail, which will be essential for future strategy decisions.

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