How can 2.8 million pairs of feet make less of a footprint?

With 1.3 million employees and 1.5 million patients travelling to and from NHS facilities every day, it's no wonder that 5% of the UK's transportation related carbon emissions are attributable to the organisation. So how can we protect the health of our nation, without damaging the health of our planet?

Sustainable development

Although climate change is the most serious global environmental threat, promoting new, modern, sustainable ways of living, working, producing and travelling also stand to achieve wider benefits to human health and well-being. Click here to find out more about the Department of Health's commitment to Sustainable Development.

The NHS Sustainable Development Unit (NHS SDU) for England provides leadership, support and policy input to ensure the NHS is the leading public sector organisation in promoting sustainable development and mitigating climate change. To find out more about sustainable development activity in the NHS, visit the website:http://www.sdu.nhs.uk.

What we are doing for the wider NHS?

The NHS Confederation has recently produced a report Taking the temperature: Towards an NHS response to global warming which examines the implications of climate change for human health and the NHS, the current targets and how NHS organisations are rising to the challenge.

Good Corporate Citizenship describes how NHS organisations can embrace sustainable development and tackle health inequalities through their day-to-day activities. Find out more at www.corporatecitizen.nhs.uk

Click here to read about real examples of the NHS leading the way in fighting climate change.