South West London CCG Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21

Sustainable development The NHS Long Term Plan includes several commitments related to health and the environment, including efforts to tackle climate change, reduce single-use plastics, improve air quality, and minimise waste and water use. Climate change poses a major threat to our health as well as our planet. The environment is changing, that change is accelerating, and this has direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS. Improving health by tackling climate change Climate change threatens the foundations of good health, with direct and immediate consequences for our patients, the public and the NHS. The situation is getting worse, with nine out of the 10 hottest years on record occurring in the last decade and almost 900 people killed by heatwaves in England, in 2019. Without accelerated action there will be increases in the intensity of heatwaves, more frequent storms and flooding, and increased spread of infectious diseases such as tick-borne encephalitis and vibriosis. Nationwide, the NHS has already reduced its carbon emissions by 26% in the last 10 years, (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, including supply chain) exceeding its commitments under the Climate Change Act. In doing so, we have learnt that many of the actions needed to tackle climate change directly improve patient care and health and wellbeing. This is because many of the drivers of climate change are also the drivers of ill health and health inequalities. For example, the combustion of fossil fuels is the primary contributor to ill-health from air pollution. Best estimates suggest that over one-third of new asthma cases might be avoided because of efforts to cut carbon emissions. Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 | 113