How large charities can lead on climate change

A survey in 2021, by the People’s Postcode Lottery, found that respondents across Britain said that charities were both a trusted source of information and the leading motivator when it came to encouraging environment and climate-friendly behaviour.

 

Respondents cited environmental charities as the single most important factor in them adopting low-carbon lifestyles. It seems that charities, particularly environmental ones, could be key to leading on climate change.

 

But it’s not just climate charities that can lead on climate change. It’s all charities. With over 166,000 charities in the UK, we can have a significant impact when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint and adopting more sustainable practices.

 

Large charities in particular should take the lead and set the example, as not only do they have more resources but often their carbon footprint is larger than smaller charities.

 

As well as setting the example for all charities, large charities could actively help smaller and medium-sized charities by sharing their learnings, resources and policy templates – helping them save time and resource. After all, why reinvent the wheel?

 

 

How large charities can lead on climate change

 

 

Have a sustainability strategy

 

Just as your organisation has an organisational strategy, communications strategy, digital strategy, fundraising strategy etc – you should also have a sustainability strategy. This will ensure that you have clear objectives that you can work towards, as well as setting out the tactics to achieve them.

 

It also shows staff, volunteers, corporate partners and the public that you are serious about committing to being a more sustainable organisation. And don’t forget to include your progress and impact in your annual review.

 

 

Update your policies

 

There are a number of existing policies that could be updated with sustainability in mind. For example, is your travel policy climate-friendly? Are you offering incentives for staff to take up more eco-friendly ways to travel, such as bicycle loans? Are you ensuring that you compensate for cycling in the same way you do for car use?

 

Does your supplier policy state that you will only work with suppliers who have an environmental standard or certificate?

 

Revisit your policies and look to where you can add in environmental and sustainable actions.

 

 

Sign up to the climate and environmental leadership principles

 

ACEVO, the membership body for charity leaders, has put together a framework for charities to help them structure and direct their thinking on climate issues and how they can be part of the solution.

 

Charities can pledge their commitment and join a community where they can share learnings and work together towards a shared vision. Ensure that your charity has signed up and pledged their commitment. 

 

 

Build climate awareness into your charity

 

While many charities want to do more to fight climate change, they aren’t yet taking the steps to do so. This article, Building climate awareness into your charity, sets out practical steps that charities can take to ensure everyone is working towards being more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

 

Some examples are ensuring that staff ‘think before they print’, shut their computers down at the end of the day, switch lights off, unplug appliances and that there are recycling bins around the office.

 

In addition, everyone in the charity should be aware of your sustainability strategy and understand their role in achieving its goals.

 

 

Share your learnings

 

One of the best things about the charity sector is the willingness to share learnings. Creating strategies and policies can be time and resource intensive, so large charities can help smaller ones by sharing theirs. If there is anything confidential it can simply be redacted.

 

Voluntary Action Harrow Co-op has a sample Environmental Policy for Charities on their website that any charity can access and adapt for their own organisation.

 

 

Involve trustees

 

Trustees are ultimately responsible for the charity they serve. If charities want to move the dial on how they can address climate change, they must educate and involve their trustees in the process.

 

There may be financial decisions they need to understand (or even approve), such as moving to a more ethical and sustainable supplier, that may be more expensive. It’s important that they are included in creating your sustainability strategy.

 

 

Avoid ‘greenwashing’

 

‘Greenwashing’ is when an organisation makes green claims about their brand or a product that are not entirely true or could seem contradictory. For example, a beauty brand that markets its products as vegan, however they still test on animals.

 

Many large charities have online shops with products that may be sourced from all over the world. Ensure that you are being transparent about your products and your supply chain. Consider creating an Ethical Buying Policy, like Amnesty International UK. This sets out a code of conduct and ethics that the charity insists their suppliers must conform to.

 

It gives the buyer confidence that the charity is committed to only working with ethical suppliers.