Climate campaigners have welcomed a commitment by the health service in Scotland to go green by 2045 ‘at the latest’.

NHS chief executives have agreed the target alongside other key commitments, including a pledge to decarbonise small and medium vehicles in the NHS fleet by 2032.

The plans, which follow Nicola Sturgeon placing climate change at the heart of her government’s legislative plans for the year ahead, will be formally unveiled in March 2020.

Health leaders will also be drawing up proposals to ensure services continue ‘under changing climate conditions’.

The UK Committee for Climate Change has said Scotland needs to be carbon neutral by 2045.

Friends of the Earth Scotland climate campaigner Caroline Rance said all public bodies “must play their part” to avert a climate catastrophe.

“We welcome this announcement from NHS Scotland that they’ll strive to cut their emissions to net zero, while also building a more resilient service to cope with the changing climate,” she said.

“With the new climate law setting a date of net-zero emissions for all of Scotland by 2045, all public bodies, businesses and organisations must play their part.”

The green activist warns the climate emergency is “already claiming lives in the poorest nations and increasingly here in the UK”.

She added: “Climate change will have an impact on public health here in Scotland, so it is fitting that those charged with protecting life are also striving to cut emissions.”

“The NHS’s enormous demands for energy, transport, buildings and resources means that it is right they - like every other major organisation - commits to reduce its climate impact.

We look forward to seeing other public bodies follow their lead.”