Does every charity need to be a climate change campaigner?

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Does every charity need to be a climate change campaigner? 5

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 9 Dec 2009

Climate change will impact on every charity’s beneficiaries. To differing degrees, to be fair, but just as climate change is an unavoidable phenomenon affecting the world as a whole, it will affect all charities from those dealing with abused children to those working with polar bears set adrift on melting polar ice caps.

With the world’s leaders converging on Copenhagen, it is only to be expected that the loveable lefties of civil society are willing them towards a responsible and radical response to the dangers of climate change.

But should this be an official policy of charities?

Recently a Jewish development charity added combating climate change to its charitable objectives. They argue, very convincingly, that climate change is having such an impact on their work and the lives of those they work for, that they must necessarily encompass climate change as part of their charitable remit.

Christian Aid too is a climate change campaigner, as are more and more charities.

These are legitimate and sensical expansions of what are already broad and complex charitable remits (alleviation of poverty - not exactly low-hanging fruit). Do these attempts to tackle arguably the two most difficult issues facing contemporary society, culture, politics, geo-politics and science mark a charitable over-reach? Or is it a necessary and timely reaction to a crisis which requires all hands on deck?

And do we need more than just the development charities working on this? Do we need health charities, women's rights organisations, veterans' charities stepping up to create a sector-wide voice against the slow simmering of the planet?

Strangely enough for what has become a rather opinionated blog, I can’t decide.

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Mike Naidu
Sun worshipper
free agent for another week
13 Dec 2009

BBC World update (I know I am sad and should be enjoying the beach but it is too hot at the mo).

Saw an interview with a charity rep regard the proposals coming from Brown and Sarcy about their commitments to tackling climate change. Guess which charity was labasting the rebadging of existing funds? Actionaid!

Greenpeace and FoE were there, but GP did a stunt and FoE were probably off eating lentils and mung beans so Actionaid stepped up. the message was clear, same old same old and when the nice young man in a tie was asked how this new pot of aid was to be financed the answer was more taxes. Lets just hope that the tories don't get in cos they won't be willing to do that.

So, maybe because Actrionaid are more respectable/acceptable they will get more coverage re climate change, but will they make a difference? I'm no sre but if they continue to get the lime light it may have been a wise nove.

Off to the pool, see you soon.

Mike

[Reply]

Mike Naidu
vacationer
None, am on holiday
11 Dec 2009

Hey Celina,

I am getting quite bored of the whole climate change thing now. South east asian TV is not all that good and I have been watching a bit of BBC news worldwide and random chinese channels.

On the one hand we have a group of politicians in Copenhagen stalling until they get the best possible position for their country, hile eco-activists compete to get there using the least amount of energy. Hurrah, we will all be saved...b*llocks.

Over on the chinese channel they mentioned the fact that most of the chinese coal burning factories (and there are thousands) are emitting over 60% higher rates of carbon than in those europe and the chinese are still short of energy. This civil society we live in has just got too used to our technologically enhanced easy lives.

Its too late to turn back, might as well accept that we are on this path and try to find a way to get the most out of what we have left. Polar bear rug anyone?

Oh yes, with regard to your blog, just adding climate change to your remit won't get you any more donors. Anyone really committed to saving the planet would have joined Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth ages ago. You might as well add "ensuring all people have good access to twitter" if you want to get donors by enhancing your remit.

Laters from sunny Penang.

Mike

[Reply]

Anon
Fundraising
A Children's Charity
9 Dec 2009

This is such a contentious issue, I feel I have to stay anonymous. I'll start by saying I don't believe this climate change to be an unavoidable phenomenon.

I don't work for an 'environmental charity', I work in a decidedly sceptical part of the country, and I'm a sceptic myself. Why should the values I believe to be important -those of the charity I work for - be diluted - and why should I be forced to espouse values I don't believe in.

If I wanted to work for an environmental charity, I would, but I, and I'm sure plenty of my colleagues, as well as our supporters feel this is not relevant to the future of the world, or the future of the beneficiaries of the charity.

[Reply]

Carl Allen
none
none
9 Dec 2009

It has been suggested and rejected that the refresh compact include community cohesion and climate change impact as part of the accountability and reporting process for all charities ... much in the same light as governance and finance.

[Reply]

Lyndsey Maiden
Development Manager
wildlife trust of S&W Wales
9 Dec 2009

I clearly have a slight bias working for an environmental charity but I do think that it would be excellent if all charities had it somewhere in their remit to act on Climate Change. I wouldn't want their individual messages to be diluted, and I have worked for Women's Aid, RNID and others, but I think this issue will have an enormous impact on those who are most vulnerable in the world.

[Reply]

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Celina Ribeiro is the editor of Fundraising magazine and daily contributor to CivilSociety.co.uk.

Follow Celina @Celina_Ribeiro_

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