Our Strategy Explained

Public health and planet health go hand-in-hand

NHS Grampian’s commitment to our climate emergency explained

Tackling climate change presents an opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, by reducing health harms and health inequalities. Read our Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy.

How is human health linked to planet health?

Air pollution can cause and worse heart and lung diseases, lung cancer, high blood pressure and strokes. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is already around 30% higher than it was 50 years ago. It affects your brain, contributes to issues during pregnancy and impacts mental health.

The spread of disease increases in warming temperatures. This affects the health of plants and crops as well as diseases carried by insects to people.

The average number of weather-related loss events (like flooding, droughts or storms) has almost tripled since 1980. These affect crops, livestock and infrastructure, damaging our economy as well as our food supply.

Poverty and exposure to pollution are linked. One example of this is that people on lower incomes are more likely to live in densely populated areas with less access to green space and with higher levels of background emissions.

Why must NHS Grampian take action?

Failing to tackle the climate crisis will place additional strain on health services, at a time when we also have a significantly higher number of referrals, an aging population and increasing complexity of illness.

If the global healthcare sector was a country, it would be the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. EVERYONE has a role to play to reduce emissions. Even small changes by lots of people can add up to have a big impact. We also have a role to educate and encourage action within our local communities.

Moving towards net zero presents a huge OPPORTUNITY. By prioritising prevention and sustainability, NHS Grampian can be more financially sustainable too. We can better prepare for the health impacts of climate change.

What are we doing to make a difference?

NHS Grampian is proud to be contributing towards a circular economy – reducing, reusing and recycling whenever and wherever we can. Groups of staff, including those involved in the Green Theatres programme, are championing the best ways to change how we do things in the NHS and encouraging others to follow.

We are working to change the way we use NHS buildings and land through projects like our Biodiversity Action Plan. Our green spaces can help absorb emissions and support biodiversity, which supports our health.

We have a biomass boiler at Foresterhill Health Campus which contributes to the district heating network with Royal Cornhill Hospital. Test of change projects have and will continue to transform lighting, insulation, windows, heat sources and renewable energy generation for our buildings.

In primary care, inhalers account for a quarter of the carbon emissions associated with prescriptions so a group of clinical experts have developed a traffic light system for prescribers. This means offering different types of inhalers when appropriate for the individual. Reducing medicine waste, promoting physical activity and social prescribing for nature are all also high on the agenda.

Our travel policies and healthcare practices as well as the way we are supporting change in our communities are all part of a bigger shift towards net zero.

How can you help? Take action. Spread the word.

Did you know that more than 60% of the changes needed to mitigate against climate change will require some a Small steps by lots of people can make a big difference.

Look for ways to reduce the impact you are having on the environment and share this with others too. Climate anxiety can also be reduced by engaging in collective action, such as a community gardening or litter project. 

North East Scotland Climate Action Network has lots of useful information about how you can get involved in climate projects in your area. Visit www.nescan.org.

If you’re a member of NHS staff, you could become a Sustainability Champion. Just email gram.scar@nhs.scot

Net zero doesn’t mean we won’t use energy – it means prioritising green energy, green suppliers and green practices, and reaching a balance between the emissions we produce and those we remove from the Earth’s atmosphere.

Find out more in our Key Documents and Publications.

Published: 21/01/2025 15:20