The latest NHS Lanarkshire Climate Emergency and Sustainability Report is now available to view. The report highlights the significant progress and achievements made across NHS Lanarkshire during 2024/2025 in tackling climate change and environmental challenges.
This is NHS Lanarkshire’s fourth annual report which sets out progress made to reduce the impact the board has on the environment.
“NHS Lanarkshire continues to expand our understanding of Environmental Sustainability and how improvements can help have a positive impact on the surrounding environment whilst also providing positive economic and social impacts within the board.” said Craig Brown, NHS Lanarkshire Head of Sustainability and Environmental Performance.
“The commitment to Sustainability within the board is fantastic, and we continue to work with outstanding colleagues helping to deliver key projects relating to energy, waste, travel and greenspace & biodiversity.
“Our total energy consumption reduced by around 2.5 per cent. With some of the exciting projects happening this financial year, we hope to see a further reduction in energy across some of our key sites in the near future.
“We could not have delivered these fantastic results without the support of colleagues across a number of key areas including PSSD, Pharmacy and Environmental Sustainability.”
The report highlights include that NHS Lanarkshire:
- Reduced our emissions by 5%, compared with 2023/24. This met the Scottish Government emissions target ahead of the 2030 deadline, reducing our building energy emissions by 75% from the 1990 baseline.
- Successfully delivered a range of energy efficiency upgrades in our Board Headquarters at Kirklands hospital and at the West of Scotland Laundry. This included the installation of solar panels in both premises.
- Continued to make great progress on transition of our fleet from diesel to electric and remain on target to have a fully electric small vehicle fleet by the end of financial year 25/26.
- Delivered projects in conjunction with the National Green Theatre Programme. The Theatre and Estates teams ceased the use of Desflurane in our theatres, and successfully ran several waste improvement projects which reduced the tonnage of clinical waste produced.
- Led a cross-public sector sustainability working group collaborating with North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland.
- Continues to connect communities with nature via the award-winning Green Health Partnership (LGHP). The LGHP has installed nature-based health programmes in Health and Social Care practice and settings and created a ‘Lanarkshire Nature Prescription’ resource which was promoted widely via our partners.
- Collaborated with other Boards and National Procurement colleagues to identify potential future power purchase opportunities which will support us to decarbonise building energy and heating.
- Continued to improve our cycling infrastructure using grant funding provided through Cycling Scotland
- Entered our 3rd year of development hosting 4 students in 2024/25 via The Sustainability Intern programme.
- Worked with Glasgow Caledonian University hosting a masters’ student who developed a heat decarbonisation plan.
- Successfully recruited an Energy and Sustainability Manager who has strengthened the Sustainability team supporting our energy efficiency work and bringing expertise on the circular economy.
Pictured: Emily Thyng (Energy & Environment Officer), Kirsty Platt (Energy & Sustainability Manager), Craig Brown (Head of Sustainability & Environmental Performance) and Sinead McEnroe (Project Support Manager)
