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Our commitment to Sustainability

Published: Wednesday 06 August 2025 Last updated: Friday 14 August 2026

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.

Why reducing our environmental impact matters

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.

Our net zero commitment

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.

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Read our carbon reduction plan