St. James鈥檚 Hospital Green Campus Charter
Introduction
At St. James鈥檚 Hospital, our foremost commitment is the provision of high-quality patient care. As Ireland鈥檚 largest acute academic teaching hospital, we acknowledge the significant environmental impact of our operations, which include energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, emissions, and transport.
As a leader in healthcare, we have a unique opportunity to drive the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon healthcare model. By embedding sustainability into our operations and fostering a culture of responsibility, we aim to balance environmental stewardship with maintaining the highest standards of patient care.
This Green Campus Charter outlines our commitments, priorities, and actions, serving as a practical guide to achieving environmental sustainability and supporting Ireland鈥檚 Climate Action Plan targets.
Our Commitments
St. James鈥檚 Hospital is committed to:
- Sector Leadership: Becoming a leader in delivering a sustainable healthcare model while maintaining excellence in patient care.
- Continuous Improvement: Managing and reducing our environmental impacts through innovation and regular assessment.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Actively involving staff, patients, the local community, and public bodies in sustainability efforts.
- Compliance with Legislation: Ensuring full compliance with all relevant current and emerging environmental legislation and regulations.
- Embedding Sustainability into Culture: Promoting sustainability throughout the organisation to drive both behavioural and systemic change.
Governance: Sustainability and Climate Action Steering Group
St. James鈥檚 Hospital鈥檚 sustainability governance structure ensures effective oversight and collaboration across all levels of the organisation. The governance structure includes:
Sustainability and Climate Action Steering Group:
- This is the primary decision-making body for sustainability and climate action at the hospital.
- It provides strategic oversight, ensures alignment with national and hospital priorities, and drives the overall sustainability strategy.
- It focuses on delivering the Green-Campus Programme and implementing environmental initiatives specific to campus operations.
- The Steering Group comprises representatives from various disciplines across the hospital, including facilities management, clinical services, academic staff, administrative staff, and students.
The Steering Group is responsible for:
- Implementing the sustainability strategy at the campus level.
- Conducting environmental reviews and developing action plans.
- Monitoring progress against targets and refining approaches as necessary.
- Serving as a forum for stakeholder feedback and engagement.
The governance hierarchy ensures seamless integration of campus-level sustainability actions with the hospital鈥檚 broader climate strategy.
Key Themes and Priorities
To achieve our sustainability objectives, we have identified the following priority themes:
1. Waste Management:
- Reduce clinical waste and food waste.
- Increase recycling rates and promote the reuse of materials.
- Improve waste segregation practices and identify opportunities for waste prevention.
- Provide comprehensive training for staff on waste management.
2. Water Management:
- Monitor, measure, and manage water use to reduce consumption.
- Implement water-saving policies and initiatives across the hospital.
- Benchmark performance against other acute facilities to identify improvement opportunities.
3. Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction:
- Reduce carbon emissions by 51% and improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030, in line with national targets.
- Transition to renewable energy sources and optimise energy use across operations.
- Conduct energy audits and implement innovative energy-saving technologies.
4. Transport and Travel:
- Implement a Mobility Management Plan (MMP) to reduce car use and traffic.
- Promote sustainable transport options, including public transport, cycling, and walking.
- Reduce parking demand while facilitating low-carbon travel alternatives.
5. Green Procurement:
- Incorporate sustainability principles into procurement processes.
- Engage suppliers to reduce environmental impacts across the supply chain.
- Prioritise goods, services, and works with a reduced lifecycle environmental impact.
6. Capital Developments:
- Adopt a holistic approach to the design, planning, and construction of new buildings.
- Ensure energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and water conservation are prioritised in campus developments.
- Align capital projects with the hospital鈥檚 long-term sustainability objectives.
Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
To ensure accountability and transparency, all sustainability initiatives will be:
- Monitored and Measured: Regularly reviewed to track progress and ensure alignment with targets.
- Evaluated and Refined: Adjusted based on monitoring outcomes and emerging opportunities.
- Reported: Progress updates will be shared with stakeholders through the hospital鈥檚 website, internal reports, and engagement events.
Engagement and Cultural Change
A critical element of our success is fostering a culture of sustainability across St. James鈥檚 Hospital. We will:
- Actively inform and involve staff, patients, and the wider community in sustainability initiatives.
- Provide training and educational opportunities to build awareness and encourage behavioural change.
- Host events, such as Green Weeks and Days of Action, to promote campus-wide engagement.
Conclusion
Through this Green Campus Charter, St. James鈥檚 Hospital commits to playing a leading role in transitioning to a greener, low-carbon healthcare model. By integrating campus-level actions with our overarching sustainability and climate strategy, we aim to set a benchmark for sustainable healthcare in Ireland while ensuring that environmental performance supports, rather than compromises, the delivery of exceptional patient care.
How to get involved:
If you are interested in getting involved with our Climate Action and Sustainability initiatives, our Green Teams are a great place to start. We always welcome individuals with an interest in Sustainability and look forward to your input. Please reach out in the first instance to;
Barry McKenna (Sustainability Manager) [email protected]