1: Embedding Sustainable Development Goal 12 into Healthcare Education in Universities: Inspiring Change for Sustainable Practice

Given a single healthcare system can consume more resources than many small nations, preparing future nurses to address environmental impact is urgent. This chapter explores how Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12) (Responsible consumption and production) can be integrated into healthcare education using immersive simulation, behavioural science, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Ruskin Row simulation at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) illustrates how virtual, community-based scenarios help develop sustainability competencies by engaging students in challenges like waste reduction, energy efficiency, digital sustainability, and health equity. These experiences cultivate systems thinking and leadership skills essential for advocating sustainable change within the National Health Service (NHS) and beyond. The chapter also addresses structural and pedagogical barriers, such as faculty engagement, infrastructure, and digital trade-offs, while offering strategies for curriculum design, interprofessional learning, and policy alignment. It argues that sustainability must be embedded as a core healthcare competency to build climate-resilient, socially just, and environmentally responsible health systems.