NHS Lothian Charity signs Funder Commitment to Tackle Climate Change

NHS Lothian Charity has signed a commitment to do more to tackle the cause and impacts of climate change. The ‘Funder Commitment on Climate Change’ recognises that the growing climate emergency is a serious risk to the pursuit of charitable goals and that funders have a responsibility to ensure they are managing and distributing resources in a way that recognises and responds to this threat.

The Commitment brings together grant-making charities to connect, exchange, and share challenges and progress around integrating climate into their work. It also provides a framework for all funders, based on six commitments, that consider how all its investments, operations and funding programmes are operated so that they contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a post-carbon society. As a signatory, NHS Lothian Charity commits to:

educate and learn about climate change;
commit resources to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change;
integrate climate change into existing programmes, priorities and processes;
consider climate change in investment strategies;
decarbonise operations;
report on progress.

Jane Ferguson, Director of NHS Lothian Charity, said:

“Climate change is an issue that impacts every aspect of our society, including our health. By signing up to the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, NHS Lothian Charity is holding itself accountable in all aspects of our operations, from processes and priorities to investments and funding programmes. We recognise the growing climate emergency and our responsibility to take positive climate action. As part of the commitment, we will review our progress against the stated goals at least annually.

“Every step towards a post carbon society makes a difference.”

The Funder Commitment on Climate Change was launched in November 2019 and has been overseen by the Association of Charitable Foundations, the trade body for UK charitable funders, since June 2020. NHS Lothian Charity joins over 100 UK funders who have signed the commitment to date.