Civil Society, Climate Change and Social Justice

Carnegie UK Trust Small Logo

The Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society in the UK and Ireland has launched two projects that are designed to engage civil society groups in the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity. In particular, the projects are seeking input from civil society groups that have a social rather than environmental focus to their work.

Carnegie Inquiry launches projects to strengthen action and voice of civil society to tackle climate change

The challenges associated with climate change and resource scarcity are rapidly dominating the agenda in today's society - witness the recent creation of the new government Department of Energy and Climate Change.


Information

The Carnegie UK Trust Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society is chaired by Geoff Mulgan. The goals of the Inquiry are to:

  1. explore the possible future threats to and opportunities for civil society looking out to 2025;
  2. identify how policy and practice can be enhanced to strengthen civil society; and
  3. to enhance the ability of civil society associations to prepare for the challenges of the future.

With rising utility bills and increasing food and fuel prices, the consequences of climate change are being felt most acutely by those least able to afford them. These issues will not be effectively addressed without an active engagement from the full spectrum of civil society. To achieve this we have to stop categorising these as environmental issues, and explore the social implications.

The projects launched are:

  • The development of a 'guide' that will enable and inspire organisations that do not have an environmental focus to better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead. This project is being conducted with the Eden Project. To inform this work the Trust is hosting a series of events around the UK and Ireland for civil society associations.
  • The second project, conducted in partnership with the New Economics Foundation (nef), will explore how practically the social justice and climate change agendas may be bridged and the distinctive role of civil society associations in doing so.

We want to make sure we get these projects right, which is why we are keen to get input from
civil society, either by participating in associated events or by completing online questionnaires.

The findings of these projects will be launched in early 2009. For further information go to
http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/civil_society or contact morven@carnegieuk.org

Lenka Setkova, Director of the Carnegie UK Trust's Democracy and Civil Society Programme said:

Our work with nef and the Eden Project is hugely exciting and is in direct response to key concerns which came up very strongly during the first phase of the Inquiry. Civil society associations do and can play a critical role in fostering collective action so that the challenge of growing pressure on global resources and climate change are addressed in a manner that protects and supports the most vulnerable in society."


For further information on the Carnegie Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society go to
http://democracy.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/civil_society

This year, NICVA's Annual Conference - 'The value of voluntary and community organisations: our role in the future' - will build on the work of the Carnegie Inquiry into the future of civil society in the UK and Ireland by exploring what the voluntary and community sector's role should be in Northern Ireland.


Carnegie UK Trust | Morven Masterton | 24 Oct 2008
Page Views: 702


View all News