A recent survey by the Carbon Trust, in association with the Guardian, investigated carbon reduction in the public, private and third sectors. It found that only 33% of third sector respondents will make "tangible investments" in carbon reduction technologies over the next year, compared to 59% in the public sector.
Moreover, only 18% those questioned from the third sector said their organisation incentivises employees to manage carbon and meet reduction targets, compared to 27% in the public sector and 31% in the private sector.
The financial downturn is clearly affecting charities' abilities to consider the environment, but as Oliver Balch points out in his analysis, the money saved by reducing carbon emmissions can be significant.
Should the voluntary sector, with its commitment to effecting a positive social impact, invest their vital funds in being more carbon efficient? Or could the money be better spent elsewhere as funding is simply too tight?