The Climate Emergency Is A Health Emergency
The carbon footprint of the NHS is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from the delivery of healthcare, and accounts for about 4% of the United Kingdom’s emissions (NHSE and NHSI, 2020). Around 10% of these emissions come from the clinical products we use every day to care for patients (NHSE and NHSI, 2020). These emissions impact the health of our population, increasing heart disease strokes, asthma, cancers and Alzheimer's disease.
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Alongside heat-related mortalities, 38,000 deaths a year are attributable to poor air pollution, and there is an increase in the number of new vector-borne diseases in the UK (NHSE, 2025).
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Between 2020 and 2024 in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimated there were a total of 10,781 heat-associated deaths as a direct consequence of heatwaves (NHSE, 2025).
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At CritEcoCare we specialise in reducing the impact of care on carbon emissions using our extensive experience and in-depth understanding of sustainable procurement.
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How can we help?
We are committed to delivering a more sustainable healthcare system, and supporting those who buy and supply. Get in touch today.
Useful Links
1 / Department of Health and Social Care
This roadmap sets out the government’s ambition to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology (medtech) products towards a functioning circular system by 2045 that maximises reuse, remanufacture and recycling.
Design for Life roadmap - GOV.UK
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2 / NHS England - Greener NHS
​In response to the growing threat of climate change to the health service and public health, in 2020 the NHS became the world’s first health system to commit to reaching net zero and take action to reduce the future impacts of climate change.
3 / UK Health Alliance on Climate Change
In this policy report UKHACC outline seven recommendations to build a climate resilient health system to protect health now and for future generations, ensuring that everyone, everywhere, can access care in a fairer, greener, and healthier society.
​Building a Climate-Resilient Health System in the UK – UK Health Alliance on Climate Change