NHS Will Take Meat Off Menus In Bid To Cut Carbon
As part of a strategy to cut global warming emissions, England’s National Health Service (NHS) is encouraging the development of meat-free menus for hospitals.
The recommendation of meat-free meals in hospitals is part of a larger proposal to curb greenhouse gas emissions from hospitals. Other recommendations include more phone-in GP surgeries, the closing of outpatient departments, and asking surgeons to visit people at their local doctor’s surgery unit.
According to a study published in 2008, NHS emissions in 2004 were 18.6 m tonnes, which accounts for more than 3% of all emissions in England. In 2008, the NHS served 129 million main meals. The agency seeks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.