UK hospitals get cash to fight global warming

LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) The British government announced a 100 million pound fund to help the National Health Service in the battle to beat the global warming crisis.

The fund is intended to help hospitals and other health sector buildings cut carbon dioxide emissions, increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

''The reduction of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases is important for the environment and helps people lead a healthy life,'' said Health Minister Andy Burnham.

''Saving energy also means cost savings in the long term that (health) trusts can spend on improving patient care,'' he added.

The money will go towards more energy efficient appliances, buildings insulation and combined heat and power plants.

The Department of Health said that while the average energy performance of NHS buildings had improved by six per cent compared to 1999/2000, total carbon emissions had actually risen by 11 per cent because the number of buildings had risen.

''The NHS is using more energy overall because it is occupying more space,'' Burnham said yesterday. ''The 100 million pounds that I am announcing today will help NHS organisations achieve energy and carbon emissions targets.'' The NHS consumes about one percent of the energy used in England.

It is the latest move by the government to bring down not only its own but the nation's emissions of greenhouse gases and cut energy consumption.

Its aim is to increase energy security and meet international commitments to tackle climate change.

Most scientists agree that temperatures will rise by between two and six degrees Celsius this century due mainly to carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels for power and transport, putting millions of lives at risk from floods and famines.

Former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern said in October that urgent action on global warming was vital, and that delay would multiply the cost 20 times.

REUTERS MQA RAI0911