Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital staff celebrating the launch of GreenED
NSLHD hospitals driving greener care Emergency Departments at Royal North Shore, Ryde, and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai hospitals have been awarded bronze accreditation through the Royal College of Emergency Medicine GreenED International pilot program. This accreditation recognises their efforts to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high-quality patient care. GreenED is an initiative designed to help Emergency Departments measure and reduce their environmental footprint. Participating sites work through evidence-based actions across bronze, silver and gold levels, improving sustainability while supporting national net zero targets, reducing costs and promoting high-value care. Launched in 2023 with support from NHS England, the program has already seen 25 Emergency Departments across the UK and Ireland achieve accreditation. In total, nine Emergency Departments across New South Wales achieved bronze status in the pilot. The accreditation was officially announced on 22 April to coincide with Earth Day 2026, marking the global expansion of GreenED across Australia and New Zealand. Local site leads, including Dr Justin Bowra, Dr Lucy Lutze and Sarah Artrup, played a key role in driving the initiative and achieving accreditation. “This accomplishment has been driven by a dedicated, innovative team who have reduced emissions, minimised waste and delivered cost savings, all while maintaining high-quality patient care,” said Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. “A healthier planet means healthier patients, and we have a duty to act to protect both. “Emergency Departments are already seeing the impacts of climate change, from heat-related illness during heatwaves to trauma presentations during floods and complications linked to air pollution such as asthma. “It is particularly encouraging to see this work taking root in Australasia, and I am pleased to see colleagues collaborating across countries on a global challenge that affects us all.”
NSLHDNEW S | ISS UE 8| 08 MAY 2026
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