How small organisations can take action on climate change

We all have a part to play in the fight against climate change. But do big budgets and teams mean that larger organisations can do more? Not necessarily.

 

How much or how little your charity is doing on climate change does matter to your team. You’ve heard of quiet quitting, but climate quitting is a thing too. When your charity’s practices around topics like inclusion or climate change don’t align with your staff member’s moral codes, you’re at risk of losing them to conscious quitting.

 

While leaders of small organisations are highly likely to be concerned about the impact of climate change, how often does this translate into the action that team members want to see?

 

There are a number of concrete actions that small charities and non-profits can take to start addressing the climate crisis.

 

 

Audit your greenhouse emissions

 

Understanding your current level of greenhouse gas emissions will help you identify where you could be reducing levels and by how much.

 

By taking a benchmark, you will also be able to set targets and report on progress.

 

There are some digital tools available to help you audit your digital carbon footprint and you can commission emissions auditors to provide a full overview of your organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

 

The ability to make and action decisions quickly means that audits can happen faster in smaller organisations.

 

 

Reduce overheads and energy consumption

 

Reliance on increasingly expensive fossil fuels for energy and manufacturing processes is driving up costs for charities and the businesses that supply them with essential services.

 

Exploring renewable energy suppliers and services that aren’t reliant on expensive fossil-fuel driven processes is likely to pay off financially in the long run and help to tackle climate change now.

 

In small charities it may be one ops manager with oversight from the C.E.O. and trustees who manages energy supplier decisions, so change can happen faster.

 

 

Explore sustainable tech options

 

Consider hardware and software when thinking about how to make the technologies your charity uses more sustainable.

 

Whether you’re purchasing a new kettle for the kitchen or a new tool for your email marketing, ask questions about sustainability.

 

Training staff with supplier decision-making authority on how to choose sustainable suppliers could help create a culture of sustainability in a relatively short time.

 

 

Choose sustainable suppliers

 

Do you have a procurement process in place? If you do, does it encourage staff to investigate and ask questions about sustainability?

 

Potential suppliers can be quizzed about their approach to energy emissions, digital carbon footprint, re-using and recycling, for example. Truly sustainable businesses should also be considering responsibility towards their people by paying a living wage, for example.

 

 

Reduce waste and recycle

 

You may already be part of a card and paper recycling scheme, but did you know that electronic waste is a big issue in countries like the U.K., U.S. and France?

 

The U.K. is one of the biggest producers of electrical waste in the world – in 2022 it generated the second largest amount of e-waste after Norway.

 

Think about repairing, re-using, or recycling electrical equipment like computers, kettles, or coffee machines. There may be a repair cafe in your local area that can help. Another charity locally could benefit from equipment you no longer need. Or you might find that the manufacturer of your broken electrical item is now offering refurbishment services as part of their own drive towards sustainability.

 

 

Embrace flexible working

 

Flexible working can really help to reduce your organisation’s carbon footprint, but the solutions aren’t as obvious as you might think. Simply saying work from home to reduce transport emissions is oversimplifying the situation.

 

Transport emissions are a big factor though, so do think about where you’re located and how easy it is for staff to reach your offices on foot or by bike. Consider bike schemes and flexible start and finish times so that rushing around doesn’t force people into cars for convenience.

 

There is a flipside to working from home - the technology footprint created when we spend more time talking on Teams and email than in person. Supporting low carbon processes like project management tools and walk and talk phone meetings will help you see the environmental benefits from remote working.

 

 

Leadership

 

The climate crisis intersects in very practical ways with the issues that small social justice organisations are working on and the communities they serve.

 

Climate conscious leadership in small organisations can help to develop a culture of sustainability that aligns with staff values and supports staff retention. Think about how climate change affects your mission and how you can communicate the change you want to see for the planet as well as the community you’re effecting change for.