In 2019, the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust became the first health organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. In this interview James Dixon, Associate Director – Sustainability at the Trust, tells Gareth Kane the very personal story behind this landmark move. James reveals how he was suffering climate-related depression and was contemplating civil disobedience – and a potential jail sentence – but was persuaded by his wife to channel his efforts into more practical change in his sphere of influence.

We discuss a wide range of issues including:

• Establishing an internal Sustainability brand
• How declaring a climate emergency opened the floodgates of action
• The importance of building internal and external networks
• “Healthier planet, healthier people” as a motto
• The challenges of delivering change in a 24/7 high profile environment
• How baby Rosie became the first UK baby to be delivered with the help of a low emissions gas & air system
• The carbon footprint of Gareth’s hernia

If you found James’s story as powerful as I did, please like, share, subscribe etc – it all helps me keep these episodes coming. And if you have any Sustainability questions for the next Q&A episode, fire them through!