The Community Foundation recognises the growing climate emergency and our responsibility to support the global effort to transition to a low-carbon economy. Climate change affects us all. It’s not only an environmental issue; it’s about society and the economy, because it impacts most on poorer and vulnerable people. It’s also a local issue, because it’s in our own communities that we’ll experience climate change, but also where people and organisations can take action to address it.
As an endowed foundation, one of the biggest impacts we have is through our investments. The Board has adopted a responsible investment policy through which we seek to align with the United Nations Paris Agreement and commit to our portfolio being net zero by 2050 at the latest. Ideally, we wish to see credible early progress by supporting at least a 45% emissions reduction by 2030.
We also aim to address the carbon footprint of our operations, including transport and energy use, by ensuring our building is as ‘green’ as possible and reducing our waste production through reuse, recycling and disposal initiatives. We procure environmentally and socially responsible goods and services and use quality local suppliers and services where possible. And we support biodiversity through planting in the landscaped area outside our building. We recognise we have a wider role to encourage others to take climate action, notably through the funding and support we provide to local charities and community organisations.
In 2022, we became one of around 100 charitable trusts and foundations signing up to the UK’s Funder Commitment on Climate Change. Below we explain the commitments we’ve made, some of the actions we’ve taken, and those we’re planning.
Commitment | Action taken | Further action |
1. Educate and learn |
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2. Commit resources |
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3. Integrate within existing programmes, priorities and processes |
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4. Steward investments for a post-carbon future |
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5. Decarbonise operations |
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