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Climate action through investment in social care

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 13th December 2021

New report outlines key principles and actions required for a more sustainable social care sector.

The Health and Social Care Academy (an ALLIANCE Programme) and Scottish Care (this link will take you away from the website) have published a new report following a series of co-hosted roundtable events which looked at social care in a changing environment.

These events recognised that the social care sector needs to be involved in supporting sustainability efforts as it is both affected by and contributes to climate change. Presently, there is little policy and action being taken to deliver social care in a changing climate. Given the mixed economy of care provision in Scotland, the impact of climate change will need to be acted upon by a range of different bodies, including local authorities, health and social care partnerships and care providers.

The events brought together speakers with experience and expertise from variety of backgrounds to discuss several themes – understanding the challenges for climate action in the social care sector, climate innovation and solutions, wellbeing economy and Net Zero.

While there is no one expert, it was evident there are many in the sector who are keen to learn more and engage. Over the course of the series, it was clear that based on capacity and engagement there are many other issues in the sector that take precedence to climate action in social care but there is indeed a desire for change.

Based on findings from the roundtable series key principles and actions were developed to demonstrate what is required to build a more sustainable sector. Actions cover the following themes:

  • Awareness 
  • Investment 
  • Workforce 
  • Commissioning, tendering and procurement
  • Research and impact 
  • Information 
  • Sustainable PPE and waste management 
  • Buildings and heating
  • Transport

The report concludes that achieving radical and transformational change is a collective responsibility. Fair representation of the social care sector must be part of the priorities of the Scottish Government. It highlights the need to bridge the gap between principles, action and the changes and that this needs to happen in the wider system which will involve changes to law, policy and practice.

Read the full report ‘Climate Action and the Social Care Collective Roundtable Series- Report’ for more information.

Resources:

Climate action and the social care collective- roundtable report
Download PDF Document (1 MB)
Climate action and the social care collective- principles and actions
Download PDF Document (488 KB)
Download all document resources

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