Embedding sustainable healthcare education in professional pathways and programmes

At HEIW, as part of NHS Wales, we recognise the impact of climate change on population health and the significant carbon footprint of healthcare. In line with the NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan, we are playing our part to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change ourselves and to help others in the system do the same.

One way we are achieving this is through the implementation of our new Climate Smart Education and Training Action Plan   , which will help to ensure access to sustainable healthcare education and training is available to all learners and trainees in HEIW’s remit. Through the plan, we are continuing to raise awareness of the importance of a sustainable healthcare system for the well-being of future generations and providing education and training to help learners and trainees make their practice more sustainable. Together, and in collaboration with colleagues across the system, this plan will help to create a more sustainable NHS Wales for the benefit of patients and population health.

The Climate Smart Education and Training Action Plan has been developed by the HEIW Climate Smart Education and Training Working Group, an internal group with representation from across professional pathways and programmes in HEIW. The plan includes 60 multiprofessional and profession-specific actions grouped by six themes and is supported by sets of development principles and priorities

Priority actions are planned for delivery by March 2026, but in line with the evolving work there is further scoping to undertake in some areas which will inform future iterations of the plan. Further information and updates can be found on the HEIW website and the Climate Smart Community.