Act sustainably

While considering the impact our changing climate will have on your organisation, it’s still important to make sure that your operations are as environmentally sustainable as possible. That means reducing carbon emissions.

Why bother?

The consensus is that the global temperature should not be allowed to rise by more than 2 degrees centigrade above current levels. If it does, climate change will cause irreversible and massive global damage.

Our actions between now and 2015 are critically important if climate change is not to become catastrophic and unstoppable across the globe. Carbon emissions need to fall dramatically in the next decade. And even then, the impacts of climate change will still be devastating in some regions of the world.

Here in the UK, the aim is to reduce emissions by 34% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels). We all have a part to play in achieving that.

For voluntary and community organisations, this makes perfect sense: we exist to make a difference, to make the world a better place. So we need to act in ways that won’t damage the planet now or in the future.

Benefits

Reducing your carbon footprint will help your organisation to:

• play a part in tackling climate change
• save money by cutting fuel bills and other costs
• satisfy new legislative and funder requirements on environmental performance
• improve your reputation with potential service users and supporters, who might be looking for ‘green’ credentials
• prepare for operating in a low carbon future.

Every action counts

Every action you take is valuable, so don’t dismiss your efforts to green your operations as unimportant. If your organisation needs a bit more inspiration about what you can do, why not take part in the 10:10 campaign to reduce your organisation’s carbon emissions by 10% in 2010 or look for help on the Advice and support page?

Does your organisation also have a role to play in campaigning to slow climate change down? 

How will your organisation begin to prepare for climate change? Try our top tips.