Three reasons why Charity Digital is taking climate action

Our Climate Action Hub is now home to a wealth of resources, from a handy climate change glossary to help charities understand more around the language of climate change to an in-depth explanation of the science behind it.  We have also compiled a list of resources from other charities and organisations which can help the sector take steps to address environmental sustainability within their own operations and talk about it with their audiences.  

We understand that talking about climate change can seem a bit abstract given the pressures on charities, particularly as demand for services rise and the cost-of-living crisis continues. But we wanted to explain more about our reasoning and demonstrate that the time for addressing climate action in the charity sector is now. 

Three reasons behind our Climate Action campaign 

Climate change will likely affect the communities that charities serve disproportionately. As the Framing Climate Justice project points out, “One of the most important tenets of climate justice is that those who contribute the least to the climate crisis suffer the brunt of it”. 

The consequences of climate change, from food scarcity to natural disasters, will have an impact on the work that charities do and the work they are able to do in the future. Addressing climate change should be seen as necessary futureproofing, not an afterthought.  

Similarly, it is important to note that research from Climate Outreach tells us that the vast majority of people in Britain, across a variety of demographics, understand that climate change is real and all segments agree that we’re already feeling the effects. In that vein, charities also have a responsibility to act – for their beneficiaries, donors, supporters, and employees.

As a charity that exists to help other charities achieve their mission with digital, we want to acknowledge that digital technology comes with its own carbon footprint and encourage the sector to think about the sustainability of the tech they use. The carbon footprint of digital technology is often underestimated, but it is, in fact, comparable to that of the aviation industry.  

This does not mean that charities should avoid using digital technology. There are complex conversations organisations need to have – Zoom calls might save carbon emissions involved in travelling to in-person meetings, for example, but that is not to say they don’t have an environmental footprint of their own.  

We must think about our carbon emissions objectively and make strategic decisions in order to reduce them. We want to encourage charities to include digital in their sustainability strategies, in their environmental policies, and in their energy-saving actions. By thinking about digital in this way, we can be more efficient with how we use it.

3. The charity sector has a voice to lead on ethical issues 

Charities are used to getting people to care about our causes and climate change is a cause that affects all of us. Climate Outreach’s research into the attitudes of the public towards climate change found that it is seen as a concern for everybody across the political spectrum, across all sections of society. Simply put, it should not be a partisan issue.