following in germany’s footsteps

Last week, we reported how Germany was quite revolutionary in telling its citizens to stop eating meat, unless on special occasions.  Following their lead, Britain will have meat-free menus promoted in hospitals as part of a strategy to cut global warming emissions across the National Health Service, according to the Guardian.

The biggest difference with this, however, is that it is not a single suggestion but rather, part of a nationwide plan to reduce carbon emissions in the UK Health System.

 

Last year the NHS published what it believes is the biggest public sector analysis of carbon dioxide, the biggest greenhouse gas, which showed the organisation’s emissions in 2004 were 18.6m tonnes and rising. This accounts for more than 3% of all emissions in England, and if the NHS was a country it would have been ranked as the 81st biggest polluter in the world that year, between Estonia and Bahrain.

One-fifth of the emissions were from transport, one-fifth from buildings, and the remainder from procurement, including drugs, medical equipment and food.

They have committed to a government pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.  Other proposals include reduction of water bottle use, greater sterilization and re-use of equipment, and encouragement of public transportation for visitors.