Climate Change Leaders for a Low Carbon
London
Key challenges and opportunities for the voluntary & community
sector (VCS)
Climate Change Leaders is a London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC) initiative
developed with several partners to actively engage mainstream VCS infrastructure
organisations in London to become leaders and advocates addressing climate change.
According to the Mayor of London’s Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy,
green house gases need to be reduced to a level no more than 50% of 1990 levels by
2050 to avoid longer-term and more severe impacts. As an employer of 7% of London’s
workforce, the VCS can play a key role in achieving that. It can also influence the
behaviour of the wider community, as well as playing a role in setting policy
agendas and influencing decision makers. There are specialist organisations providing
advice on environmental sustainability, but the Task Force Report, "Shaping Our Future"
identified that the mainstream VCS is not yet actively engaged in carbon reduction
activities and leadership is required to help them move towards this. Infrastructure
organisations, such as Councils for Voluntary Services (CVSs) were identified as key in
supporting awareness and action in the mainstream sector.
Key messages & issues for the sector
 There are barriers between tackling the impact of potentially huge public sector cuts
and engaging with and developing climate change work.
LVSC and its partners will mobilise the sector through targeted campaigns,
networking, signposting to resources and training. Infrastructure organisations will be
encouraged to take part in free eco audits and sign up to the Third Sector Declaration
on Climate Change. LVSC will raise awareness about the major benefits of developing
climate change mitigation and adaptation activities, including an emphasis on how they
can make financial savings for the sector.
 There are clear links between social action and justice, health, quality of life and
environmental impact.
LVSC and its partners will work with infrastructure organisations so they can support
frontline groups to become more resilient by making clear links between effective
measures to reduce poverty levels among Londoners, impoved health and quality of
life and reduced carbon footprints and improved environmental sustainability. For
example, advice centres providing debt advice, can offer support to individuals to
reduce energy use and waste and so save them money.
 There is a need for clear and co-ordinated climate change policy support for the
mainstream VCS in London.
LVSC and its partners will develop campaigns and produce relevant and timely
information that supports adaptation to, or mitigation against, climate change.
 Funders and commissioners are increasingly asking the VCS to demonstrate green
credentials and policies as part of their funding agreements and contracts.
LVSC and its partners will work with funders to ensure that expectations are realistic,
flexible and achievable for London’s diverse VCS. They will also work with
commissioners of public services to raise awareness of the value of the VCS as both
providers of services and advocates for their users. VCS organisations have the ability
to be flexible, resilient and reach the most marginalised and disadvantaged
communities, who are at risk of the most negative impacts of climate change.
For more information contact Sandra van der Feen, Policy Officer: [email protected]
This project is funded by City Bridge Trust
Third Sector Leaders for a Low Carbon London partners
London Sustainability Exchange (LSx)
LSx works in partnership with all sectors, including the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to
reduce London's environmental footprint and improve the lives of London's disadvantaged
communities.
London Community Resource Network (LCRN)
LCRN works to solve London's resource challenges sustainably, through community-based waste
prevention, reuse and recycling. LCRN enables and capacity builds organisations through
infrastructure development.
Global Action Plan (GAP)
GAP is a national environmental behaviour change organisation. They offer a blend of creative and
environmental expertise to help people actively cut carbon emissions.
Ethical Property Foundation (EPF)
EPF offers independent, ethical advice and training to help charities and voluntary and community
sector groups rent, buy, let or manage their property.
Capacity Global
Capacity Global provides a unique link between community action and policy development that
supports individual, community and neighbourhood rights to a clean and healthy environment
locally.
Black Environment Network (BEN)
BEN promotes equality of opportunity with respect to ethnic communities in the preservation,
protection and development of the environment.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Their climate change work project includes the Vulnerable People and Climate Change project,
which helps VCS organisations supporting vulnerable people in England to explore the implications
of climate change.
ACEVO
ACEVO hosts the Sustainability Special Interest Group, the member's network for groups who
work on issues related to environmental and social sustainability.
Merton Voluntary Service Council
Merton VSC took part in the City Bridge Trust Greening the Sector project and they went though
the Eco Audit process. They encourage other organisations to mainstream climate change in their
organisations.
Selby Trust
Selby Centre brings together a rich mix of individuals and organisations, primarily from Black and
Minority Ethnic (BME), refugee and other historically excluded communities in Tottenham,
Haringey, North London and beyond. One of their goals is to lower their carbon footprint as a
learning, social and economic community.
City Bridge Trust (CBT)
CBT is the grant-making arm of Bridge House Estates. Through their programme, Greening the
Third Sector, CBT helps to bring the current global environmental crisis to the forefront of the
charitable sector's agenda by helping its grantees become more sustainable.
Sandra van der Feen
LVSC - January 2011