Ambulance Victoria (AV) has today announced new steps for becoming a sustainable ambulance service, including reaching net zero emissions five years earlier than planned and increased emissions reduction targets for 2025 and 2030.

AV has pledged the following reduction targets on their path towards zero net carbon emissions from their 2015 baseline:

• 2025: 39% emissions reduction
• 2030: 60% emissions reduction
• 2045: Net zero emissions

With these targets, the carbon footprint for each patient cared for by Ambulance Victoria will be halved by 2030.

Last year, AV reduced their emissions by 7% through immediate uptake of renewable energy at high-use AV sites, and pledged to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2025. The organisation is internationally recognised as a sustainable healthcare leader, receiving two awards in the 2020 Healthcare Climate Championships through the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network.

The Sustainability team at Ambulance Victoria is helping to achieve these commitments through renewable energy use, retrofitting buildings with solar panels and batteries, adopting hybrid vehicles, and transitioning to zero emission vehicles.

Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker said paramedics see the impact of climate change firsthand, from bushfires through to extreme heat.  

“As one of Victoria’s most trusted services, we not only think we should do better, we know we must do better,” Mr Walker said.

“We have a responsibility to the community to do so and that’s why we are raising the bar with science-based targets.”

“All of us at Ambulance Victoria know our place in an emergency, by your side. Our response to climate change is no different. “

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Pacific Regional Manager Carol Behne said Ambulance Victoria’s steps to tackle the climate crisis were inspiring.

“We know that Australia’s healthcare sector is responsible for 7% of national carbon emissions,” she said. 

“The healthcare sector has an obligation to protect health from climate change, not exacerbate the problem and we are delighted and proud to see this leadership from Ambulance Victoria.” 

“These commitments from Ambulance Victoria make them national and global leaders in climate resilient and sustainable healthcare.” 

Media contact: Remy Shergill, [email protected], 0423 075 895

The Climate and Health Alliance is Australia’s peak body on climate change and health. Learn more at www.caha.org.au