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I understandThere is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to environmental commitment and action. Environmental policies and action plans are useful for defining ambition, identifying what is important and the actions that will help to realise this ambition.
Understanding what your organisation stands for, and who you stand with, can help you figure out where you would like to see change and what to focus on, e.g. reducing operational impacts, programming or content which explores environmental themes, supporting environmental skills development or projects, engaging with audiences and communities on climate action.
A statement of values, principles and commitment to positive environmental change – the bigger picture, framing what you want to achieve.
Outline what environmental action and good practice means given the size, scale and nature of your activities and impacts.
Make clear who is accountable and who is responsible.
Frame your environmental action.
If you are a freelancer or very small organisation, a policy may also look more like a personal manifesto or statement of intent that is shared with all partners you work with.
Sets out how you will put your values, principles and commitment to positive environmental change into practice – the detail of how you are going to achieve your ambitions.
Specific actions and responsibilities, timelines and where relevant, budget or resource allocation, on reducing impacts, developing environmental practice and embedding environmental change.
Where possible, it should include SMARTIE – Strategic, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, Timebound, Inclusive and Equitable - objectives and targets.
What can you do on a practical operational level:
What can you do to inform and inspire change and put the planet at the heart of what you do:
What can you do to push for and support wider change:
How much energy do you use? How much waste do you generate? How and when do you travel? What do you programme? Who or what do you fund?
Who do you work with? Who are your suppliers? How do your audiences travel?
What public transport options are available? How can you expand your reach to include others who may not have access or opportunity to engage on climate action? Who is in your neighbourhood and how you can support local environmental and social justice initiatives?
Identifying and understanding your impacts can be complex, especially if you have a wide range of activities. You can start by focusing on one specific activity or area, such as an upcoming event, a specific audience development project, a new website development, a key project or programme. Then you can progressively work to build a full picture of your environmental impacts as an organisation and define what you will commit to changing.
When developing your commitments and/or policy, reflect on how your work aligns with local, national and global commitments. Are there issues of particular concern to your audiences or community, e.g. air pollution, lack of green spaces or local transport services? Can you contribute to addressing these concerns, if so how? Are you aligned with/connected to organisations or social movements working towards similar objectives in your community, local authority or region?
Environmental commitment and action is an ongoing, iterative process and progress should be reviewed and revised as needed.
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