On 5th November we hosted our latest member’s virtual Sustainability Champions Virtual Discussion Group.  Many thanks to everyone who came along and shared their questions, challenges, approaches, lessons learnt, progress and resources.  Our discussion groups provide a unique experience to network and share with other members in an informal setting.

Our “Sustainability” (often also called “Environmental and “Green”) Champions Discussion Group focuses on how you inspire, engage and empower staff and volunteers to take collective and impactful action to implement environmental sustainability within an organisation. The group focused on a range of challenges and opportunities, including:

•         Supporting colleagues to increase their knowledge of environmental sustainability issues and learn new skills e.g. carbon/climate literacy

•         Engaging (raising awareness), inspiring and empowering colleagues to take action

•         What actions are organisations delivering and developing?

•         Involving colleagues in developing an organisation’s environmental sustainability policy, strategy and action plan

•         Ensuring that you have everyone you need from your organisation involved (often across multi sites)

•         Allocating and managing limited time and resources

•         Getting support (buy-in) from all areas of your organisation (from senior management to volunteers)

•         Supporting staff with their well-being, particularly how organisations are approaching the ever-increasing challenge of “climate anxiety”

Lianne Fountain (Environment Strategy Project Manager, Suffolk County Council) will start the discussion with an overview of the tier membership approach for Environment Champions at Suffolk County Council.  This self-selective approach enables colleagues to engage in a range of activities with different responsibilities that can match their skills, availability and enthusiasm.