Why do we need a green plan?
As a world-renowned centre of excellence in ophthalmic care, research, and education, Moorfields Eye Hospital has long been a front runner in advancing health outcomes. Through this green plan, we deepen our commitment to innovation by recognising and addressing climate change, one of the greatest health and societal challenges of our time.
The NHS is responsible for approximately 4% of England’s total carbon emissions. In response, it has launched an ambitious campaign to achieve net-zero emissions, aiming for:
- 2040 for emissions it controls directly (Scopes 1 and 2), and
- 2045 for indirect emissions (Scope 3), with interim ambitions for an 80% reduction by 2028–2032.
This green plan sets out Moorfields’ strategic response, aligning with NHS-wide goals while championing sustainable eye care. We have reviewed:
- Where we work – our facilities and infrastructure
- How we work – our operational and clinical practices
- Who we support - our diverse patient population and workforce
Our aim is to embed sustainability at every level, not only meeting national expectations but also pursuing leadership in sustainable ophthalmology by working collaboratively across the NHS and beyond.
Climate change is already impacting health through increased air pollution, rising temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events. NHS England data shows:
- Up to 38,000 deaths annually are linked to air pollution, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups and deepening health inequalities.
- The economic cost of climate-related mortality is projected to rise from £6.8 billion/year in the 2020s to £14.7 billion/year by the 2050s.
Climate action offers direct benefits:
- Improved public health outcomes
- Reduced strain on NHS resources
- Enhanced equity for deprived communities
- Support for UK’s vision of a clean energy future
Through the implementation of this green plan, Moorfields takes responsibility for its role as a global healthcare leader – delivering not only pioneering eye care – but also responsible, sustainable, resilient systems that protect our environment and people.
Developing this plan
The refresh of Moorfields’ green plan has been driven by meaningful engagement with staff and partners across the system. We have shifted away from reliance on external sustainability support, investing instead in internal expertise and leadership to deliver a robust and inclusive strategy.
Staff involvement has been central to this process. Through our recently established staff sustainability champion network, MoorGreen, we are providing space for all our staff to share ideas for a greener future. In 2025, we held a number of interactive workshops and will continue to support cross-departmental, grassroots innovation across departments and services. In parallel, our green plan delivery group has steered the development of our green plan via designated leads, with regular updates to track progress. Contributions from our green theatres working
group has also informed planning – highlighting frontline opportunities to embed sustainable clinical practices.
We have carefully considered equality and legal duties, ensuring voices across the trust are heard – including clinical, non-clinical, and operational input.
Governance and accountability
Moorfields’ governance structure has evolved significantly since our last green plan. Sustainability delivery is now coordinated through an established green plan delivery group, which has been reporting into our sustain and scale board, ensuring strategic oversight at senior levels. We have a designated senior sustainability lead in operations, supported by a cross-functional network
of directors and area of focus leads who contribute to the development and implementation of green plan priorities.
We are committed to providing an annual summary of green plan progress to the board and will also be reporting this publicly in our annual report. These progress updates will include:
- A narrative summary of key milestones, actions and achievements.
- The identification of delivery risks and challenges.
- Quantitative data reflecting progress against carbon and sustainability targets.
Through structured governance, strong leadership, and a culture of collaboration, Moorfields is well-positioned to deliver a credible, resilient, and innovative response to the climate emergency – while maintaining our position as a world- leading provider of ophthalmic care.
Working with our partners
Our sustainability journey has been driven by broad collaboration—both within our Integrated Care System and across the wider healthcare landscape.
Moorfields plays an active role in the NCL (North Central London) Greener Oversight Programme Group and the NCL Travel and Transport Group. We’ve also built strong connections with peer trusts—including University College London Hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare, West London NHS Trust, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Barts Health, and University Hospitals Sussex—to share insights and strengthen our collective sustainability efforts.
We are proud members of the Islington Sustainability Network, and our Emergency Planning Lead contributes to Islington’s resilience forums, enhancing our focus on climate-related risks. As we prepare to relocate to our new site at King’s Cross, we look forward to joining the Camden Climate Alliance and participating in Camden’s resilience forums.
Over the past six months, our sustainability team has cultivated valuable partnerships with organisations such as GHASP (Greener Healthcare and Sustainability Project), which has played a key role in expanding our external sustainability network. Support from the non-profit Greener by Default has also helped us advance our Food and Nutrition commitments and connect with dieticians across other trusts. We are currently collaborating with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare to deliver a joint event on sustainable ophthalmology.
Our international engagement has grown through initiatives such as hosting a delegation from the Singapore National Eye Centre for a dedicated session on Moorfields’ sustainability practices, and by presenting our work at the World Association of Eye Hospitals Annual Conference in France and Switzerland.
New centre for advancing eye health in Camden
In 2027, Moorfields will open its new home for advancing eye health: a purpose-built centre in Camden, delivered in partnership with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity. This transformative move from City Road marks a pivotal moment in our history – bringing together clinical care, research, and education under one roof to accelerate breakthroughs in patient treatment and experience.
The new centre will foster seamless collaboration between clinicians and researchers, creating opportunities for earlier patient involvement in clinical trials and expediting the delivery of cutting-edge therapies. With inclusive design at its core, the centre aspires to be a national exemplar for accessibility, carefully tailored to meet the diverse needs of our patient population.
From a sustainability perspective, the centre represents a bold step forward. The development has been shaped around net-zero readiness, incorporating the latest energy- efficient technologies and building standards. The centre will help Moorfields meet the NHS climate commitments while elevating our environmental performance across estates and operations.
Over the next two years, our focus is on adapting working practices to
ensure a smooth transition, embedding sustainable behaviours and systems that will continue seamlessly at the new centre. This phase presents a unique opportunity to align every aspect of our delivery with sustainability principles – and many of the initiatives outlined in this green plan have been designed with that goal in mind.
