Climate change is the single greatest threat to global health and, without action, it will define the health profile of current and future generations and significantly challenge health and care systems.
In response to the climate emergency, we have created a civic partnership with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University. This makes Newcastle upon Tyne the first UK city to have all three anchor institutions publicly declare a climate emergency and commit to fast-tracking carbon reduction efforts by 2040, in order to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of our local population.
Climate emergency plan
At Newcastle Hospitals we recognise that the climate emergency is a health emergency that threatens our lives and the lives of future generations. The climate emergency plan 2026–2031 sets out the next phase of the Trust’s response to the climate emergency, aligned to our strategy and NHS net zero targets.
The plan builds on the foundations established through the previous climate emergency strategy (2020–2025), during which the trust made measurable progress in reducing emissions, improving air quality, reducing waste and embedding sustainability across key areas of delivery.
However, as outlined in the introduction, the pace and scale of transformation required to meet the original target of a 90% reduction in controllable emissions by 2030 has not been achievable within current operational, financial and system constraints.
The plan is therefore explicit in setting a revised and more deliverable target of a 50% reduction in controllable emissions by 2031, maintaining ambition while aligning to what can be achieved through sustained organisational and system-wide change.
The plan positions sustainability as integral to delivering high-quality care and will seek to embed sustainability into clinical care, estates, procurement, workforce behaviours and decision-making through the trust’s Shine (Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle) programme.
Our vision
Delivering sustainable healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) for people and planet.
Our goals
- To achieve our vision we have set three long-term goals:
- Zero carbon care
- By 2031 our carbon footprint will be reduced by half
- By 2040 our carbon footprint plus will be net zero
- Clean air
- By 2031 the vehicles we own will generate ultra low levels of air pollution
- By 2040 all travel to our sites will be active or sustainable, generating lower
- Levels of air pollution
- Zero waste
- By 2031 we will reduce the amount of waste we dispose of by 10%
- By 2040 all our waste will become a resource within a circular economy
Towards net zero
The graphic below outlines our main priorities.
If we work together, by 2040:
- We will have transitioned our buildings and facilities away from fossil fuels and towards careful use of the earth’s precious and limited resources.
- In delivering our services, we will always champion re-use over single-use items, reducing waste.
- Our buildings will be surrounded by biodiverse green spaces, accessible to patients, visitors, staff and the local community. Nature will be allowed to thrive, patients’ recovery will be enhanced, visitors will be able to take a moment for themselves, and staff will rest and replenish their energy reserves.
- We will completely replace the use of petrol and diesel vehicles for the delivery of our care, resulting in cleaner air and a healthier environment.
- All of our suppliers will have aligned their carbon reduction plans with ours.
Carbon reduction plan
Our goal is that the emissions we control will be reduced by half by 2030, and the emissions we can influence will be net zero by 2040. Our carbon reduction plan sets out our baseline emissions and our emissions reduction targets to meet these ambitious goals.
Watch our short video to hear more about our climate emergency commitments – we call this sustainable healthcare in Newcastle (Shine):
Contact us
If you’d like to contact the sustainability team, please email [email protected]
You can also write to us on:
Sustainability team (estates department)
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
Follow us
Instagram: @sustainablenuth
