CEO blog | From commitment to action: sharing examples of climate-conscious changes
25 June 2024
Carol Mack, ACF chief executive, discusses the Funder Commitment on Climate Change progress report and the benefits of sharing and learning from other foundations.
“When we put together our Funder Commitment reporting for this year, it was good to see everything in one place. It felt like we’d moved things forward in a bigger way.”
As this ACF member expressed, it’s sometimes hard to tell how much progress you’ve made until you take a step back. Each year signatories to the Funder Commitment on Climate Change (FCCC) take the time to do just that by reviewing the actions they’ve taken against the pillars of the FCCC, and sharing their progress with ACF.
The FCCC offers a framework for foundations – whatever their mission - to consider how they can apply a climate lens to their work and play a part in addressing the causes and effects of climate change. Signatories commit to take action against the six pillars of the commitment, ranging from decarbonising their operations to stewarding their investments for a post-carbon future. Importantly, the final pillar is to report annually on their progress.
ACF collates this information to create an annual progress report to share with other foundations, some of whom might be looking to take action around climate change and sustainability, but aren’t sure where to start.
We recently launched the fourth of these reports, which you can download here. It provides bitesize, practical examples of changes that signatories have made for others to consider, supporting every foundation to translate the anxiety that we all feel about the changing climate into practical action.
Signatories have rewritten investment policies, offered carbon literacy training for staff and developed new grant-making programmes. For newer signatories, taking the step to sign the FCCC and plan its implementation has been their focus over the past year.
Sharing successes and challenges is an important part of the commitment and we are delighted that so many signatories took the time to share their insights. They reflect the diversity of the funding community; areas of funding interest ranged from religion and wellbeing to housing and homelessness and digital inclusion. 15 were small foundations, making grants totalling less than £250,000 annually.
Later this year I’m looking forward to bringing together foundation leaders and decision makers at the ACF leaders forum 2024 to examine how trusts and foundations can address the climate and nature emergency. Whatever your foundation’s charitable mission and field of expertise, there is a part to play in addressing the causes of climate change and supporting adaptation to its effects. This exciting event will take place in person, in London, on 18 September. Tickets are on sale now.
In response to feedback from previous conferences, we are proud to be offering a programme that aligns more closely to our mission of supporting foundations to rise to the challenges of our time. We’ve also listened to members’ views about the format of the event, including opportunities to collaborate, time for group and individual reflection, and quiet spaces amidst the busyness of the day.
Personally, I’m really looking forward to meeting with members from across the UK, hearing from some amazing speakers, and watching the magic that happens when people network with their peers.
To find out more about the ACF leaders forum 2024, and to book your tickets, click here or drop us an email.