THE NHS CARBON REDUCTION STRATEGY

How can Trusts monitor progress?

The Good Corporate Citizenship Model provides a useful guide to assess performance. However, it may be argued that it does not cover certain issues that the Carbon Reduction Strategy considers and should therefore form part of, rather than comprise, a comprehensive monitoring tool. At the same time a limited number of Trusts have so far signed up to GCC so it provides a limited opportunity to compare performance.

Internal progress will need to be tracked against the Trust’s Sustainable Development Action Plan, while increased scrutiny will mean that a simple but comprehensive scorecard can help significantly. Contact us for details of how Olive may help, based on experience of working with Trusts.

Transport, the missing link?

Transport emissions can arise from a range of sources: private, lease and hire cars, taxis, buses, trains, planes, couriers, ambulances and other patient transport, medical sample transfers and visitor transport.

Transport data to calculate emissions is often limited. The use of electronic claim systems can help, as can requirements to provide data within contracts. While Trusts may have a site specific Travel Plan as a result of planning requirements they should ensure that a Trust-wide Travel Strategy is in place, setting policy and targets. Consultation with staff is an essential element of setting a Travel policy.

Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)

Are you subject to the CRC? Have you received letters from the Environment Agency recently?

The CRC places a significant legislative and financial obligation on those Trusts to whom it will apply. Various Trusts face particular questions and uncertainty. For example, how does the landlord/tenant relationship apply, how do PFI arrangements affect obligations, how much will it initially cost the Trust, how can the Trust gain benefit from early action to reduce carbon emissions? What is the best long-term strategy in balancing CRC liability and carbon reduction?

For details of the UK's only IEMA CRC training course and other CRC assistance contact Olive.

The Trust's Carbon Footprint?

What is the appropriate scope of a Trust’s carbon footprint? Should it include Scope 1, 2 and 3? How should the Trust normalise the footprint to reflect future changes in activity?

While it may be relatively easy to identify the carbon emissions arising from electricity and gas, how easy is it to capture emissions from waste, water, transport, process emissions and procurement?

Data is often not available or captured routinely. It is however possible to extrapolate estimates from underlying data, while developing improved data management.