Government outlines third sector climate change strategy

A vision of how government and charities will work together over the next five years to promote the low-carbon economy, and tackle climate change and sustainable development, was outlined this week in a new report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Shaping our future is the work of the joint ministerial and third sector taskforce, which was set up a year ago with the aim of bringing together Defra, the Office of the Third Sector, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Department for Communities and Local Government and 16 charities.

The government wants the charity sector to play an increasingly central role in supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy and the taskforce was set up to find new ways to encourage action on climate change and sustainability. The new report includes guidance designed to help charities, whether they are environmentally focused or not, to make climate change a part of their work.

Speaking at the launch of the report, energy and climate change minister Joan Ruddock said: "Organisations and charities across Britain are already having a big impact in helping people take action in their communities to save energy and help reduce emissions. DECC wants to work with these organisations to make sure the transition to a low-carbon economy is both effective and fair."

The report says the charity sector can help boost environmental awareness in the UK by creating green jobs, providing sustainable public services, encouraging and supporting people in making pro-environmental choices and their central role in building resilient communities.

It stresses that leadership on climate change and environmental issues is needed across the third sector, from community level volunteers through to chief executives.

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the report broke new ground and described it as a genuine effort to develop a more joined-up approach to tackling climate change from the charity sector and government.

"Two of the government departments involved and the majority of the third sector representatives do not have climate change, the environment or sustainable development as their core focus," he said. "In this respect, the report has made a very good start bringing these issues into the mainstream and builds on the decades of work of the environmental third sector which will be a key part of the picture moving forward."

Stephen Hale, third sector chair of the taskforce and director of the Green Alliance, said the report clearly outlined the opportunities that charities have to tackle climate change. "There has been a surge in third sector commitment and action on climate change in recent years," he said. "But we need to build a far broader movement if we are to shape a sustainable low-carbon future."

The report comes at a crucial time for environmentally focused charities and NGOs. Many have seen budgets shrink during the recession and there is growing concern that government funding will be cut back still further after the election. However, a Conservative victory could result in a more central role for charities in the provision of green services, following repeated commitments from David Cameron to increase the influence and reach of the third sector.