NHS in Bury joins council in declaring climate emergency

A climate emergency has been declared by Bury NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

It mirrors the decision made in July by Bury Council, and also by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and six other GM local authorities.

The CCG’s decision means it is committed to taking wide-ranging action to cut carbon emissions and ultimately improve and protect the health of the local population.

Dr Jeffrey Schryer, CCG chair and local GP, said: “Climate change is an unprecedented threat to our health and well-being. It threatens to cause irreversible and catastrophic consequences for our planet, which is why we have to act now.

“As well as improving people’s health, bold action can also deliver economic benefits in the form of new jobs and economic savings.”

Bury CCG’s governing body voted yesterday (Wed 28 Aug) to:

• Declare a climate emergency to support the delivery of the Greater Manchester 5 Year Environment Plan and aspire for Bury to be carbon neutral by 2038.
• Help develop a Climate Emergency Strategic Plan which would tie in with Bury’s proposals for economic growth and improving the local population’s health.
• Set out the immediate and longer-term steps that need to be taken in Bury to address the climate change emergency.

• The proposals also link in with Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan, which aims to tackle the air pollution which contributes to 1,200 deaths a year across the conurbation.

Plans being put in place by the NHS across Greater Manchester include improving energy efficiency and using low-carbon sources; improving transport around NHS sites; reducing waste and increasing recycling; and using the natural environment to foster good health and recovery.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “The decisions made by the council and CCG in Bury will play an important part in improving the lives of residents, both now and for many generations to come.

“By working so closely with our partners in Greater Manchester, we can make a significant impact across a wide range of areas – from health and social care to wider council services, transport and the environment.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 29 August 2019.