Empowering nurses to support Greener NHS policy

Climate change is a significant global health threat, projected to cause over 250000 deaths annually by 2050, as a result of factors such as extreme heat, flooding and poor air quality caused by pollution. The NHS, as a major healthcare provider, contributes around 4% of the UK's total emissions and in October 2020, became the world's first health service to commit to reaching net zero carbon, in response to the profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, are uniquely positioned to drive sustainability initiatives within healthcare settings, reducing environmental impact while improving patient outcomes. Sue Thomas explores how nurses can make a difference in line with the Greener NHS policy.