Greener and sustainable nursing and midwifery practice

It is widely accepted that climate change represents the biggest global health threat and global health opportunity of the 21st century (Costello et al, 2009; Watts et al, 2015; WHO,2019). Across England alone, the NHS is responsible for around 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint and approximately 30%-40% of all public sector emissions (NHSE, 2025). 

Due to their high numbers, trusted position with the public and work with vulnerable members of society, nurses and midwives are ideally placed to become leading experts in reducing carbon emissions and protecting people from the impact of climate changes (WHO, 2018). As far back as 2010, it was recognised that nurses and midwives can influence the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within health, whilst also developing strategies to respond to the health impacts of climate change (Sayre et al., 2010).

To do this however, nurses and midwives must understand these issues and have the motivation to act (Park et al, 2023). This understanding needs to be achieved on two levels; first, how healthcare interventions interact with the environment and second, the effects of climate change on the individual and their community (Anåker and Elf 2014; Iira et al, 2021).

RCN Foundation Greener Nursing and Midwifery Practice Programme

This programme will see an investment of £165,000 and aim to provide nurses and midwives across the UK with the knowledge and confidence to lead the drive for sustainable and greener practice across health and social care settings.

The objectives will be to:

• Address the gaps in the current evidence base from across the UK relating to nurses and midwives knowledge and understanding of their contributions to adapting practice to address climate change for the people they care for and the environments they work in
• Contribute to building evidence based sustainable and greener nursing and midwifery practice across the UK
• Identify and celebrate areas of effective nursing and midwifery practice within the UK, to adapt to the challenges presented by climate change in relation to managing health, nursing practice and environmental change

The objectives will be achieved through the below funded research: