Community Wealth Building (CWB) commits NHS Ayrshire & Arran to a more sustainable future by supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and meeting our net zero commitments. It commits the Board to working with local anchor partners to tackle climate change through shared policy and local emission plans tracking progress and evaluating practice together.
CWB Climate Change Aims
Our Community Wealth Building (CWB) Climate Change pillar aims to support the organisation to:
- Reduce the impact of NHS health services on the environment
- Mitigate and adapt the organisation to the effects of climate change
- Integrate sustainability into organisations everyday actions
- Increase our contribution to Green Space, and improve biodiversity in our estate
- Establish a sustainable way to provide care in the community
Greening the Estate/Green Health
Health and wellbeing are products of a complex interaction of factors, which include our physical environment.
There is a growing evidence base demonstrating the links between greenspace and general health measures, physical activity, mental health and wellbeing.
Improving the quality of our outdoor space so that patients, staff and visitors can make better use of it for exercise, recovery, rehabilitation, relaxation and recreation supports healthier lifestyles. As well as providing opportunities for physical activity for patients, staff and visitors NHS green space can contribute to improving health by reducing pain, stress, relieving depression, reducing aggressive behaviour, increasing patient satisfaction, and improved recovery rates.
Find out more about green health, our green health app and how to access green health opportunities.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy 2021 – 2032
Read our Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy 2021 – 2032 to learn more about our Climate Change strategic overview, high level objectives and actions available at:Climate-Change-and-Sustainability-Strategy-2021-2032-1.pdf (nhsaaa.net)
Assessment and improvement to NHS Ayrshire & Arran land biodiversity
Planting trees and creating sustainable outdoor environments can also help us to: improve our sites biodiversity; meet the requirements of the Biodiversity Duty; and meet our carbon reduction targets.