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Responding to the environmental challenge

Dr Rebecca Edwards, TSRC, University of SouthamptonThe Future of Work in the Third Sector

22nd September, 2011

About our research(and why we are here…)

• Three year project, TSRC steam on ‘environment and the third sector’

• Three components:– Mainstreaming the environment– Innovating low carbon practices– Mapping the environmental third sector

• Research is not just about ‘green’ groups, but how the sector as a whole is responding to the environmental agenda

• Today, we will consider how the environment may change how third sector organisations will work in the future

The third sector and the environment: time to take action?

• Third sector, late to the party? (For good reason!)

• But, building momentum:– E.g. Task Force, Charity Commission,

Umbrella Organisations, funders, inspirational TSOs

• Third sector could play an important role in:– Mitigating the impacts of climate

change– Adapting to climate change– Advocating for the environment

Reasons for the third sector to engage with the environment

• Climate change and beneficiaries of third sector organisations

• Role of third sector in environmental advocacy

• Impacts on the internal operation of third sector organisations

• External expectations of third sector organisations

The environment and beneficiaries of third sector organisations

• Some scenarios– Storms, droughts, heat waves, flooding,

increased rainfall…

• Some impacts– Food, travel, health, economic impacts,

immigration, pressure on services…

• Who will need most help– What can we learn from past weather

events?– Thinking about impacts on beneficiaries

Role of third sector in environmental advocacy

• Arguable that the third sector is uniquely placed to:– Communicate importance

of environment – Collective lobbying of

government– Taking local action

Impacts on the internal operation of third sector organisations

• How climate change will impact your organisation– Running costs• Transport• Energy • Waste disposal

– Staff and volunteers– Premises– Income

External expectations of third sector organisations

• Cross sector legislation on carbon footprints

• Funding requirements• Expectations of

beneficiaries, donors, public/private sector partners

• Third sector partner expectations

Discussion

• Thank you for listening…. time now for discussion

• If you are interested in the points that I have raised, or would like any further information, please contact me on:– r.edwards@tsrc.ac.uk– 07779 791661

• Or visit our the environment section on www.tsrc.ac.uk

Questions to consider…

1. How might your third sector organisation be impacted by climate change? (Nominate a TSO within your group)

2. Where should third sector organisations begin to tackle the environment?1. Their own internal footprint2. Considering the impact on their beneficiaries3. Advocating action on climate change

3. How could third sector organisations be better supported to address the environmental agenda?