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Climate change

There is now a consensus that the way our economies have developed is seriously damaging the environment, and at a pace that has previously been largely under-estimated. The Stern report (see Want to Know More? below) published in February 2007 predicted that if that if no action was taken on carbon emissions, the rise in global temperatures would lead to millions of people being permanently displaced and could reduce global economic output by up to 10% in the next 50 years.

What are the implications?

• Long term developments in the structure of society as it moves towards a lower carbon future; bringing different ways of living and different needs.
• Greater legislation which impacts on the VCS and VCS beneficiaries: government legislation that imposes regulation on consumer behaviour and the operating context of all sectors or green taxation.
• Role for local government to secure support for changes in behaviour and lifestyles
• Changes in procurement practice at both local and central government level as shown by the government’s sustainable procurement plan.
• OFGEM, the UK’s energy regulator, expects the cost of energy to rise by 14-25% between 2010 and 2020. As traditional sources - oil, coal etc - run out, and newer technologies are still in the emergetn stage, costs will climb. How will this affect those you support, as well as your own organisation's costs?
• Different weather conditions, with increased natural disasters. These could affect how organisations run their day-to-day business, as well as bringing changing health problems in any given area.
• Global food production is affected as rain patterns shift, having a knock on effect with markets. What would this mean for the UK economy? Particularly with today's market globalisation.
• Increased global population movement as large numbers of the world are permanently or temporarily displaced becoming environmental refugees.
• Greater emphasis on environmental responsibility. Pressure on the VCS to re-examine practices and policies and demonstrate it is behaving in an environmentally responsible way.

Moving forward

Much emphasis has been put on individual action to improve people's environmental footprint.

• Has your organisation considered the impact climate change could have on your beneficiaries? How might your ability to deliver services be affected?
• How can your organisation capitalise on this enthusiasm to encourage collective action?

Climate change and environmental responsibility concerns organisations of all sectors. Individuals are increasingly aware and critical of organisations that don’t practice what they preach. If you don't step up, could it impact on your organisation's support or donations?

• Is your organisation 'walking the talk'?

There is increasing pressure from funders and the public for organisations to be environmentally sustainable and responsible.

• Does your organisation understand the impact its services and practices may have on the environment?
• Has your organisation got the reporting systems in place to demonstrate and communicate this?

The impact of climate change has resulted in a recent series of new government initiatives and legislation to achieve sustainable communities. It can be expected that this movement should swell.

• The government's Sustainable Action Procurement Plan will impact on public service delivery and on the VCOs that provide public services. Is your organisation amongst them?
• The Sustainable Development Bill should provide more power to local communities to influence local strategies on sustainable communities. How will you ensure that you are part of this process?

Creating a low carbon society could also provide new opportunities to help create a better society, with greater wellbeing for individuals and communities. 

• As goods become more expensive both in monetary terms and carbon cost, there could be space for a change in cultural norms. This has been written about elsewhere on our site as well). What role could your organisation play in fostering such a move among the community it works with? Is there space for that? Or is it all wishful thinking?

Want to know more?

Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change

Published by: HM Treasury – a Government department

Date: 2007

Format: PDF

What is it? An independent economic review of climate change for the Government, assessing the evidence and outlining the impacts.

How useful is this? The first part of the review considers the economic costs of the impacts of climate change, and the costs and benefits of action to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause it.  It concludes that the benefits of strong, early action considerably outweigh the costs but also points out that given that climate change is happening, measures to help people adapt to it are essential.  The second half considers the policy challenges involved in managing the transition to a low-carbon economy and in ensuring that societies can adapt to the consequences of climate change that can no longer be avoided.

Other comments:

Positive Energy: Harnessing people power to prevent climate change

Published by: IPPR – a left of centre think tank

Date: 2007

Format: PDF Summary Report, full report available to purchase

What is it? A report suggesting policies, techniques and communications approaches for promoting

behaviour change of the public to help mitigate climate change.

How useful is this? This report looks at the role individuals play in mitigating climate change and the importance of influencing behaviour to encourage more energy efficient lifestyles.  It considers: what behaviours need to change; what the public are already doing about climate change; what their attitudes are towards it; and the role of communications.  It then looks at behaviour change, considering barriers, approaches and influences, before making recommendations.

The new politics of climate change: why we are failing and how we will succeed

Published by: Green Alliance

Date: 2008

Format: PDF (246KB)

What is it? A report by Green Alliance director Stephen Hale examining the failures (and reasons for these failures) in government to act sufficiently on climate change. It also suggests a radical and persuasive new approach to securing this progress revolving around mobilising all arms of the third sector.

How useful is this? This report looks at how the recession has impacted upon government strategy toward mitigating climate change and how in order for us to influence policy change on an issue of this scale we must maximise opportunities for political mobilisation.  It looks at reasons for the failure in government to adequately address and respond to the issue, focussing then on prospects for future change.  Third sector organisations hold the key, the author suggests, to mobilising public support in combating climate change; easily accessible tables and graphs present an overview of how third sector activity on climate change exists today, and how it may look in the future.  The report suggests ways for leadership to raise awareness and engagement and sets out a potential framework for third sector collaboration on all levels.  Overall it provides a good overview of how the politics of climate change may alter in the future, especially in regards to voluntary sector organisations.

Other comments: A think piece on the NCVO website by the author can be found here and provides a well structured overview of some of the topics focussed upon in the report.

The Big Response project report

Published by: Global Action Plan, Green Alliance and NCVO

Date: 2010

Format: PDF 325KB

What is it? A report by the three organisations involved in delivering the Big Response project. This project was funded by the Baring Foundation as part of its special intitiative to explore the link between climate change and non-environmental organisations' primary charitable purposes. How does climate change relate to organisations who aren't primarily environmental ones?

How useful is this? The report comes out with three key messages: that climate change will affect beneficiaries across the charity sector; organisations can be galvanised to address the issue in a strategyic way and that organisations will need external support for this engagement. The project findings are particularly of interest for environmental organisations that would like to widen organisations' engagement with climate change issues.

The report covers in detail the procedure of the project, which can be invaluable if you are thinking of embarking on something similar.

Other comments: There are four case studies at the end, of the four organisations this project was based around. This is gives an interesting insight into how the system worked and could give you an insight into how useful such a process might be for your organisation.

They also have information drawing from this project to help organisations prepare for climate change. Have a look.

Shaping our future: The joint ministerial and third sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development

Published by: Defra, Cabinet Office, Communities and Local Government, Department of Energy and Climate Change

Date: 2010

Format: PDF (2.57Mb)

What is it? The final report published by the Ministerial and Third Sector Task Force on Climate Change, the Environment and Sustainable Development. It presents an inspiring vision for third sector action on climate change and sets out how we can achieve this over the next five years.

How useful is this? The report is a weighty tome, packed with recommendations and information on climate change. There are some real nuggets in there, such as on page 28, which outlines potential opportunities for the third sector arising from climate change pressures. The report covers a wide range of issues:

• Leadership
• Government leadership
• Building resilient communities
• Behaviour change
• Sustainable public services
• Green jobs, skills and enterprise