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Last updated: 12 March 2010
The UK Sustainable Development Strategy recognises that care for the environment needs to be an integral part of policy-making, which includes by the Office of the Third Sector. In the Office of the Third Sector, our overarching aim is to develop and support an environment which enables the third sector to thrive, growing in its contribution to Britain's society, economy and environment. Ultimately, the sector will thrive only if it is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. The Office of the Third Sector increasingly expects its programmes and funding relationships to reflect this goal.
In recent decades, we have become more aware of increasing damage to the environment and a widening global gap between the rich and the poor. There is a growing realisation that the way we develop is not sustainable. We need to find a way to improve our quality of life while living within our environmental limits and ensuring a fair society. This is sustainable development.
Read more on the Defra website
Every third sector organisation – big or small – can help make a difference.
Each organisation can look at its own activities to reduce its own emissions of greenhouse gases and contribute to sustainable development.
The third sector connects with hundreds of thousands of people – this engagement with diverse communities is crucial, as around 40% of national greenhouse gas emissions result from decisions taken by individuals, particularly around travel and energy in the home. Third sector organisations are powerful, trusted communicators, championing all those committed to environmental action. The third sector pioneers innovative ways of working for a better local and global environment. From the power of volunteers – now over 20 million – to the ability to inspire community activism on climate change - the third sector knows citizens are on its side in the commitment to environmental justice.
We define the third sector in part by its social and environmental values. In strengthening the third sector and enabling people to change society, all Office of the Third Sector programmes can contribute to sustainable development.
We recognise the importance of sustainable development in our 2009-10 business plan. We support the Cabinet Office environment policy and contribute to the Sustainable Development Action Plan. We are also taking specific action to embed sustainable development in our policies and programmes, and encourage our partners to do the same.
• Office of the Third Sector ministers support the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change. We encourage all our Strategic Partners to promote this to their members.
• In 2009-10, the Office of the Third Sector asked all its strategic partners to consider how they can support the long term environmental sustainability of their organisation, their members or networks.
• From May 2009 to February 2010, the Office of the Third Sector supported a new taskforce looking at ways to embed commitment and action on climate change and sustainability, both throughout the third sector and in government programmes for the sector. This was jointly chaired by ministers from Office of the Third Sector, Defra, Department of Energy and Climate Change with 16 third sector stakeholders. Download the full report and associated commitments from both Government and the third sector
• The Office of the Third Sector works closely with colleagues in the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Defra, supporting the Defra Third Sector Strategy
• Office of the Third Sector programmes taking action on sustainable development include the £30m Community Assets programme, which includes criteria for the environmental performance of the buildings it refurbishes. The majority of our programmes are accessible for environmental activities and a range of ‘green awards’ are included in Case Studies
• The Office of the Third Sector encourages charities to note the guidance from the Charity Commission and research report Going Green: Charities and Environmental Responsibility
The Charity Commission signposts training resources and websites that may be useful for charities
Social enterprises can contact Envirowise which offers free, independent advice to UK businesses to increase profitability and reduce environmental impact
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has a third sector blog that draws together all the latest government and third sector activity on the environment