Following the recent COP26 Climate Change Summit, we discuss, in this week’s episode, the announcement that some 50 countries have committed to reach net zero carbon emissions within their healthcare systems by, or before, 2050. We talk about the role that GPs can play in reducing the carbon footprint of their practice, how to tackle climate anxiety, and how integrating greener practices into our healthcare systems aligns with better health benefits for our population as a whole – both now and in the future.

Our guests:

Richard Smith is the chair of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, and former editor of ‘The BMJ’.

Aarti Bansal is a GP, working in Sheffield, and the Net-zero NHS GP lead for the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership. She is also the founder of Greener Practice.

Further reading:

Greener Practice website: https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk/

Greener Practice guide to inhaler prescribing: https://www.greenerpractice.co.uk/greener-practice-guide-to-inhaler-prescribing

https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2416