IJB Performance and Outcomes

Climate Change Duties

IJB's Commitment to Climate Action

The Shetland Integration Joint Board (IJB) is dedicated to fulfilling its climate change duties, as given by the Climate Change (Scotland) legislation. The Climate Change Duties report outlines our ongoing efforts to address climate change and promoting sustainability within our services.

Our Partnership for Sustainability

The Shetland Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) works closely with Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland (its Statutory Partners), and the Shetland Partnership to champion sustainability and strive towards achieving net zero emissions.

Strategic Goals for Reducing Impact

Our HSCP Joint Strategic Plan, 2025-2028, emphasises our commitment to:

Reducing energy consumption
Minimising waste
Optimising resource use through improved processes and technology
Decreasing emissions by using digital consultations and online meetings to reduce travel
Addressing Emissions and Climate Change

The IJB will carefully consider the impact of both direct and indirect emissions. We will collaborate with our partners to support initiatives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Furthermore, the HSCP will actively seek ways to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into our services, benefiting both our services and the community.

Preparing for Climate Impacts

We are committed to assessing and mitigating the risks that climate change poses to our community and service users, including:

Evaluating vulnerabilities to extreme weather events like flooding
Continuously monitoring and assessing risks identified in the IJB risk register
Implementing resilience measures and regularly reviewing business continuity plans
Sustainability in Decision-Making

The IJB will integrate sustainability into our decision-making processes. Reports presented to the Board will include comprehensive Impact Assessments, covering equality, social, environmental, and economic factors, ensuring informed and responsible policy development.

Our Climate Change Duties

We adhere to the three core elements of public bodies' climate change duties:

Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Adaptation: Adapting to the impacts of a changing climate.
Acting Sustainable: Integrating sustainable development as a fundamental value.
Report Submission and Transparency

As required, the Shetland IJB submitted its Climate Change Duties Report to the Scottish Government on 08/10/2024. This report follows a standardised template, ensuring consistency with reports from other public organisations like local Councils and Health Boards.

Important Context

It's important to note that certain sections of the standard Climate Change Duties Report do not directly apply to the IJB. These sections relate to responsibilities that remain with our statutory partners, the Council and NHS Shetland, who manage climate change within their respective services.