Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board has launched “Green CTM” – a drive to find new ways of working to reduce the NHS’s impact on the environment.
Coinciding with the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, “Green CTM” has seen the establishment of a staff working group to help the health board meet a target of a 34% cut in greenhouse gas emissions from the NHS by 2030 if it’s to meet “net zero” requirements.
More than half of Cwm Taf Morgannwg’s emissions come from healthcare activity including medicines, chemicals and medical equipment – some of which is energy-intensive.
“Putting this front and centre of our decision making at every level – as individuals, teams, organisationally and with our partners – can be transformational for our staff, communities and future generations.
“It can be something as simple as deciding to bring a re-fillable cup into work instead of using disposable cups, switching off lights and monitors not in use, to decisions about the materials we use in the services we provide, and right through to bigger transformative projects such as our buildings and energy systems.”
– Linda Prosser, Director of Strategy and Transformation
Cwm Taf Morgannwg has already made progress, with emissions having remained consistently below year-on-year targets since 2010-11 and only increasing during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some of the initiatives already introduced to date include renewable energy, the introduction of electric fleet vehicles, switching to LED lights, increased recycling and reduced use of certain anaesthetic gases and inhalers.
