Strategy and policy – inhalers
The Carbon Trust estimate the Carbon Footprint of NHS Wales 2018/19 to be 1,001,378 tonnes CO2e and of this 23% of the footprint associated with drugs and pharmaceuticals. Inhalers were identified as a hot spot area for action.
As a result, the NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan (2021) included initiatives relating to inhaler choice, use and disposal and a target of ‘Shift to 80% of inhalers being low global warming potential (GWP) alternatives by 2025’ was set.
Key documents (listed in alphabetical order)
| All Wales Adult Asthma Management and Prescribing Guideline (updated August 2025) | A guidance document aiming to reduce variation in inhaler prescribing in the management of adult asthma. |
| All Wales COPD Management and Prescribing Guideline (updated October 2025) | Guidelines aiming to reduce variation in inhaler prescribing in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). |
| All Wales Paediatric Asthma Management and Prescribing Guideline (published June 2023) | A guidance document for a national, standardised, safer and sustainable approach to asthma care in children. |
| Decarbonisation: inhaler prescribing, use and disposal 2023–2030 – A national strategy for Wales (published November 2023) | A strategy outlining the actions that the NHS and its partners will need to take to reduce the carbon impact of inhalers in Wales. |
| NHS Wales Carbon Footprint 2018/2019 (published July 2020) | A carbon footprint assessment commissioned by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) on behalf of the Welsh Government, providing a calculation of the NHS Wales Carbon Footprint (for financial year 2018/19) in line with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. |
| NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan 2025 to 2030 (published November 2025) | The Welsh Government’s plan to reduce the environmental impact of NHS Wales and support the Welsh Government’s Net Zero ambition for the public sector. |
| NHS Wales Decarbonisation Strategic Delivery Plan 2021-2030 (published March 2021) | The Welsh Government’s plan for reducing the environmental impact of the NHS and addressing climate change. |
| Other respiratory pathways and guidelines | A webpage hosting a range of respiratory related resources, pathways and guidelines. |