Sustainability

Due to the alarming and extremely serious nature of the climate crisis, NHS Scotland has become the first health service in the UK to commit to becoming a net-zero organisation, ensuring that we are a net-zero health service by 2040.

In the face of climate change, we need to reassess and adapt to the challenge as an organisation and as individuals within the organisation. This means understanding the impacts of climate change on health and illness and recognising that the NHS needs to be sustainable for future generations. By working together to achieve a more sustainable organisation, we can contribute to the health and wellbeing of our patients, staff, and communities whilst reducing our environmental impact and tackling the climate emergency we are currently facing. 

NHS Fife’s commitment to address climate change

NHS Fife recognises its duty to act to address climate change, working towards aligning ourselves to the NHS Scotland Climate Emergency and Sustainability 2022-2026 Strategy and the revised policy for NHS Scotland on the Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development DL (2021) 38.

Reducing NHS Fife’s carbon footprint involves taking action in several areas, including improving energy efficiency, supporting more sustainable travel for patients and staff as well as our fleet, and reducing waste and water consumption. Reducing environmental impact in these areas may seem challenging, however by working together with our colleagues, partners, and suppliers we can implement sustained change to allow us to achieve these goals and ambition.

Our role as an anchor institution

As an anchor institution, NHS Fife has the power and responsibility to influence action on a broader scale to reduce its environmental impact and protect resources for the health of future generations. We are committed to acting for the benefit of the local communities we serve and recognise that we can positively contribute to local areas in many ways beyond providing healthcare. As anchor organisations, NHS bodies have great opportunity to model the sustainability goals around fair employment, gender equality and sustainable communities and in doing so, tackle inequality. Therefore, NHS Fife needs strong leadership to give visibility to strategies, align efforts with other organisational priorities and maximise the influence of the NHS on environmental sustainability within Fife.

The sustainable development goals

Working towards environmental sustainability through tackling the climate emergency is intrinsically linked to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NHS fife must ensure that net-zero efforts are aligned with economic and social development within the health service and a collective effort to achieve the SDGs.
 
If you would like some further information on the SDGs you can check out the 17 goals on the United Nations website.