Tips on getting started – Greener Primary Care Wales

The Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme is free to join and contains a broad range of clinical and non-clinical climate-friendly actions for teams to implement. Actions can be completed in any order and there is no minimum number required, offering flexibility about how to participate.

Practices can achieve a bronze, silver, or gold award if a threshold of actions is reached. Each action completed equates to 1 point and as the number of points increases, so does the level of award.

Actions are hosted on an online framework and each action is accompanied by supporting information and resources to help you complete it. You will need to register to access the online framework, but you can see the list of current actions by clicking the link below. Additional advice is available from our team via [email protected].

• View a list of the Framework actions.
• Watch our animation which explains the Scheme further.
• Watch our demonstration video which provides step-by-step guidance on how to register to participate in the Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme and use the online framework.

The Scheme is open for teams to join and participate up until Autumn 2026, allowing plenty of time to work on actions and achieve an award, or to work on additional actions to get a higher level of award than previous years.

The Framework offers a broad range of actions – some quick and easy, some more challenging that will take more time. You have flexibility to choose which ones to do. It can be as quick or as long as you want.

Most individuals and teams join the Scheme because they want to do something to benefit the environment. Many of the actions in the framework are classed as ‘mitigating’ or ‘decarbonisation’ actions – implementing these is important because it is our only way of slowing down climate change. Some of the actions are classed as ‘adaptation’ because they involve adapting to the likely impacts of climate change, such as severe weather events.

However, in addition to these environmental reasons, many teams also cite noticing financial savings by participating, improved staff wellbeing and morale, and clinical co-benefits to patients.

To find out more, take a look at our case studies showcasing great work from some of the practices who have participated in the Scheme. You can also read some of the testimonials received from key figures in Wales.

We have also developed a series of contractor specific resource packs to support each of the four primary care contractors when considering ways to become more climate-friendly through participating in Greener Primary Care Wales Framework and Award Scheme.

A set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the scheme have been put together to aid both new and returning teams. If you can’t find the answer to your question in the FAQ document, please email us at [email protected].

• Carbon Footprint Calculators for use by Primary Care Contractors Summary Report, Public Health Wales, February 2022
• Database of Healthcare’s Environmental Impacts Values [Healthcare LCA]
• Enviromentally Sustainable Primary Care: Helping you and your practice improve your environmental footprint
• Get a New Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), GOV.UK
• GPNET-0 Study: Implementation of Decarbonisation Actions in General Practice to Help Achieve a Net Zero NHS, University of Warwick, September 2023 – February 2026
• Readiness to Reduce Primary Care-associated Carbon Emissions in England: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Clinical and Non-Clinical Staff Views, Family Practice, July 2025
• Travel Audit Template, Public Health Wales, 2022