Our commitment to Sustainability
For over 150 years, we've been dedicated to protecting and supporting children and young people. It's at the heart of everything we do.
But today, the climate crisis poses a serious threat to that future, and we have a responsibility to take action.
We're on a journey to reduce our environmental impact. Our first step has been to understand how our operations effect the planet, including calculating our carbon footprint and looking at where we can do better.
At Action for Children, we've developed a carbon reduction roadmap that outlines our ambitions. As we gather more data, this roadmap will grow and evolve.
We've already started making positive changes and we're committed to going further.
By making more sustainable choices and working together with our stakeholders - including suppliers, colleagues, volunteers, and the people we support - we hope to minimise our environmental footprint and work towards brighter futures for children, families and communities.
The climate crisis isn't just an environmental issue. It's a children's rights issue.
- 78% of primary school-aged children in the UK say they're worried about climate change, with over a quarter feeling very worried.
- 49% of young people aged 16-25 in the UK report being very or extremely worried. Over half believe climate change will limit their future opportunities.
- If global temperatures rise beyond 1.5°C, 38 million children born in 2020 could face extreme heat events at unusual levels during their lifetimes.
- A UK government report highlights that persistent increases in temperature can negatively affect children's ability to concentrate and learn.
These statistics are a stark reminder that children are already feeling the effects of climate change - emotionally, mentally and physically. That's why we're focused on reducing our environmental impact and prioritising sustainability across our operations.
We're committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That means reducing our emissions as much as possible, and offsetting any remaining emissions, so that the overall impact is zero.
We're laying strong foundations and embracing the opportunity to make a lasting difference.
What we've done so far:
- Developed a carbon reduction roadmap aligned with net zero by 2050.
- Added more electric vehicles to our fleet to reduce transport emissions.
- Appointed a Sustainability Manager to lead and coordinate our efforts.
Looking ahead:
We're in the process of developing a sustainability strategy that will set out short, medium and long-term goals. It will also have clear targets to track our progress.
Our current focus areas include:
- Improving energy efficiency across our buildings and services.
- Encouraging colleagues, volunteers, and the children we support to get involved in our sustainability efforts.
- Promoting a circular economy across our services by encouraging reuse, reducing waste and improving recycling.
- Making sure we look at sustainability across the charity, including areas like procurement.
- Understanding more about Scope 3 emissions, including supply chain and indirect impacts.
We know this is a long-term journey, and we're committed to learning, evolving, and taking action every step of the way.
