New Initiatives Propel Greener Healthcare Transition
The University of Liverpool is playing a key role in two major projects aiming to decarbonise healthcare in the UK and beyond.
The Greener Trials project, led by the University’s Professor Paula Williamson, will adopt an open science approach to reducing the carbon footprint of clinical trials. The work will be undertaken in collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research, the University of Aberdeen, the South African Medical Research Council, NHS England and the Sustainable Healthcare Coalition, together with public and patient research partners.
Funded by Wellcome, Greener Trials aims to digitise guidance for assessing the carbon footprint of publicly-funded trials to more rapidly gather the data required to identify areas of concern, identify research gaps and issues with current decarbonising systems, share mitigation strategies and promote behaviour change.
The project will result in a website hosting an open access, free online carbon calculator designed to work alongside calculators in development by the pharmaceutical sector, as well as active communities of practice, evidence-based mitigation strategies plus priorities for research.
Professor Paula Williamson said: “Healthcare contributes around 4-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with clinical trials contributing to this. Initiatives are underway to identify ways to de-carbonise healthcare, which must include de-carbonising clinical trials since they are considered a fundamental part of routine health and social care. We are delighted to have received this funding to help take steps in the right direction.”
The University’s Professor Willamson and colleagues will also partner in a new UK-wide hub led by the University of Exeter and funded by £6.5 million in government awards, which aims to develop new ways to help the NHS dramatically cut its carbon footprint.
The new funding is from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Overall, they are investing £42 million on seven hubs, each facing a difference net zero challenge.
The new ‘UK Hub for One Health Systems: Creating Sustainable Health and Social Care Pathways’ brings together a range of university and healthcare partners throughout the UK, to tackle the challenge of helping the NHS become environmentally sustainable, and to help meet its legal obligation to become net zero by 2045.
The NHS has already made good progress in reducing its own carbon footprint, with emissions directly in their control on course for an 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2030,. However, emissions have actually increased from travel, waste and from companies who make drugs, devices and supplies used by hospitals and care facilities.
Hub director Ed Wilson, Professor of Health Economics and Health Policy at the University of Exeter said: “We’re delighted to receive this funding, which recognises our strong partnerships with the NHS, and our commitment to a greener, fairer and healthier society. We’ll be looking at a patient’s journey through the NHS and social care, finding where the carbon hotspots are and seeing what we can do to make them carbon neutral. This isn’t just about reducing travel and unnecessary waste, but about helping the NHS’ suppliers – the companies who make our drugs, medical devices and everyday items like swabs, sheets and hospital gowns – to redesign their processes to reduce carbon emissions.”
Core organisations in the new Hub include; Cornwall Partners NHS Foundation Trust; Glasgow Caledonian University; the Institute of Cancer Research, London; the James Hutton Institute NHS Highland; Queen’s University Belfast; the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland; the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust; the University of Aberdeen; the University of Liverpool; the University of South Wales; Volunteer Cornwall; and Getting it Right First Time, an NHS England programme designed to improve treatment and care.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool said: “The University of Liverpool community is exceptionally proud of the Greener Trials project and the wider work that Professor Williamson is leading on around sustainable clinical research. The University has a long track record in delivering innovation in clinical trials, which are an essential step in improving healthcare outcomes for some of our region’s and our planet’s most vulnerable citizens. At the same time, tackling the climate crisis is a key strategic priority for our University. We are delighted to be a part of this partnership, which will deliver critically important innovations to help deliver a sustainable future for clinical trials.”
https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2025/03/03/new-initiatives-to-advance-move-towards-greener-healthcare/