Morning, Tuesday, 28th April 2026
This conference will examine next steps and key outstanding issues in advancing NHS net zero goals and wider sustainability. Discussion will focus on the quality of delivery, strengthening accountability, and priorities for implementation as ambitions move further into practice across the healthcare system.
With NHS England’s Five years of a greener NHS: progress and forward look report published in September 2025 suggesting that the NHS is currently on track to meet interim targets, it will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss what will be needed to maintain progress, prioritise delivery gaps identified by some stakeholders, and for the next phase of delivery.
The agenda will bring out latest thinking on practical strategies for securing the pathway to net zero by 2040 for NHS-controlled emissions and 2045 for emissions the NHS can influence - and for addressing operational and financial pressures ahead of the NHS’s 2028 interim net zero milestone.
As the NHS implements the 10 Year Health Plan, sessions will discuss how to integrate sustainability considerations in the three shifts to prioritising prevention, providing care closer to home, and utilising digital tools. This includes how decarbonisation strategy can also support wider objectives for prevention, air quality and reducing health inequalities.
Clinical pathways, training & sustainability leadership
We expect discussion to draw on practical examples of enabling decarbonisation through clinical decision-making, including prescribing and treatment choices, and how real-world trade-offs can be managed while maintaining quality of care and patient choice. Consideration will also be given to how more efficient and personalised pathways can be delivered in community settings.
Delegates will assess priorities for embedding sustainability into workforce training, quality improvement and organisational culture, and for strengthening leadership and engagement at local level. Areas for discussion include the role of clinical leads and GIRFT in supporting evidence-led change, access to specialist sustainability and quality improvement training, incentives and frameworks to support engagement, and how teams can be supported to change practice amid wider operational pressures.
Estates, infrastructure, climate resilience & sustainable delivery
As well as next steps for decarbonising the existing estate, discussion is also expected on use of the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, including how new developments can align sustainability with patient-centred design while delivering value for money.
Approaches to sustainable estate management will be examined, including the role of digital tools and AI, how to manage associated energy demand and environmental impacts, and priorities for strengthening climate adaptation across the estate - from extreme weather preparedness and infrastructure risk assessment in green plans, to addressing overheating vulnerability in older buildings.
Discussion is also expected on heat and energy decarbonisation priorities across the NHS estate, including approaches to upgrading complex and ageing buildings, minimising disruption during retrofit, and the role of energy conservation measures, fabric improvements and advanced energy management systems in supporting long-term transition. Consideration will be given to funding and investment models, alongside the future for on-site renewable generation, including investment in solar and collaboration through the NHS-Great British Energy partnership, supporting reduced reliance on the grid and potential cost savings.
Procurement, supply chains, auditing delivery & transport strategy
Sessions will examine priorities for strengthening delivery of supply-chain decarbonisation while maintaining procurement resilience. Areas for discussion include verification and assurance of supplier claims, approaches to auditing delivery, and targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Delegates will also consider how partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers can best be structured to support the introduction of more sustainable products, alongside the way forward for reporting requirements, and options for advancing approaches that integrate with circular economy developments.
In light of NHS England’s Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy, delegates will consider priorities for developing sustainable travel plans across trusts and systems, including options for fleet electrification while balancing performance and cost, and the potential future role of technologies such as drones.
Governance & finance
Further sessions examine priorities for funding, investment and governance in supporting delivery.
Discussion will consider approaches to managing short-term cost pressures alongside longer-term savings, integrating sustainability measures within NHS capital programmes, and reflecting board-level accountability and regulatory expectations in oversight frameworks. Sessions will also look at the practicalities and cost-effectiveness of public-private delivery models, and how accountability for sustainability can be embedded through governance arrangements and workforce development.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
