Part 1: Health Service in England: Integration, Collaboration and Other Changes NHS Foundation Trusts Section 68: NHS Foundation Trusts: duties in relation to climate change
Duties as to climate change: The Act introduces a new duty on NHS Foundation Trust that will require each Foundation Trust to have regard to how it can contribute to the achievement of the government’s legislative targets regarding the environment and climate change. These are specified as: the target set under Section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (the Net Zero emissions targets, currently set for 2050) and the targets due to be set under Section 5 of the Environment Act 2021, which will pertain to such matters as air quality, water quality and species abundance (among others). In addition, the duty requires each Foundation Trust to have further regard to how it may support efforts to adapt to the predicted impacts of climate change as set out in reports brought forward under section 56 of the Climate Change Act 2008. The duty applies to Foundation Trusts when exercising any of their functions. Subsection (2) requires Foundation Trusts to have regard to any guidance issued by NHS England on how it is to discharge this duty.