Useful organisations and tools
Organisations:
- Carbon Trust
- Carbon Literacy Project
- Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
- Keep Scotland Beautiful
- Net Zero Nation
- NHS Sustainability Action
- NHS Scotland National green theatres programme
Tools:
LCAT - Local climate adaptation tool
A tool highlighting the scientific research in the UK on:
- How local climates will change
- What health and community impacts may occur as a result
- Who will be most vulnerable and why
- Which adaptations to consider
Offers a visual representation of the change in temperature in countries down to regional level over the last century.
A tool that highlights the social value and benefits of positive climate action.
CILIP The library and information association
Every year CILIP promote the a Green Library campaign. The resources page has information and links related to the green agenda.
Publications and reports
There are many reports on climate change, the climate emergency and reducing carbon impact. Here is a snapshot of some of the most relevant to those working in health and social care in Scotland.
Calculating the carbon footprint of the NHS in England - guest blog. Carbon Brief (2021) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Libraries for a sustainable future. CILIPs (2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Exploring digital carbon footprints. Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) (2022) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
An evidence review of interventions aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of surgical operating theatres Healthcare Improvement Scotland (2024) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
The carbon footprint of your library. Libraries.Fi (2020) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Climate emergency and sustainability strategy 2024-2027. NHS Education for Scotland (2024) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Sustainability in NHS knowledge and library services. NHS England (2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
What is the climate impact of Artificial Intelligence? Scottish AI Alliance (2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
NHS Scotland climate emergency and sustainability strategy: 2022-2026 Scottish Government (2022) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Annual NHS Scotland Climate Emergency & Sustainability Report 2024. Scottish Government (2024) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Chief Medical Officers annual reports. Scottish Government (2021 - 2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Links between climate change and health in Scotland. Scottish Parliament (2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Health care's response to climate change: a carbon footprint assessment of the NHS in England . Tennison I, Roschnik S, Ashby B, et al (2021). The Lancet. Planetary Health, 5(2), e84-e92. (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Reducing Carbon Impact Through Supplier Collaboration NHS Supply Chain (2025) (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Your organisation and others will have their own strategy.
Data sources
UK Government. Office of National Statistics:
- Greenhouse gas emissions, UK: provisional estimates 2023 (Accessed 27 August 2025)
- UK environmental accounts: 2025 (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Department for energy security and net zero, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland department for agriculture, environment and rural affairs (2025) , National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (2025) Greenhouse gas inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990 - 2023 (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Department for energy security and net zero (2023) 2023 UK greenhouse gas emissions. (Accessed 27 August 2025)
Glossaries
- British Business Bank. Glossary of sustainable terms
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Sustainability glossary
- Public Health Scotland (2024) Climate emergency. Key definitions
- Sustainable Business Network. Glossary of sustainability
- Scottish Government (2025) Climate change duties - draft statutory guidance for public bodies: consultation. Glossary and Key definitions
- UK Government, Crown Commercial Service. Glossary of terms: Carbon net zero and smart solutions