JRCT and Sustainability

JRCT Trustees are deeply concerned about climate change and its effects, and believe that our care for future generations morally compels us to play a part in tackling it. We see it as both a symptom of our unsustainable and unjust global economic system, and a cause of serious injustice and conflict, both now and in the future. Addressing climate change will require long-term political, economic and social changes.

JRCT is contributing to a more sustainable world in these ways:

JRCT funds work relating to climate change, where it fits within existing grants programmes (Power & Responsibility, Peace, Racial Justice, Quaker Concerns and Ireland). Please see the grants policies for more information.
We encourage all grantees to consider and tell us what steps they can take to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and waste produced, and to promote a more sustainable environment and society.
We aim to invest in companies which operate with integrity and whose products or services meet people's basic needs and protect the natural environment; and in companies which offer solutions to problems such as climate change, resource constraints and loss of biodiversity. We want to encourage business to be ethical, socially responsible and to protect the environment. Our investment strategy is published in full on our website.
Where practicable, staff and Trustees use public rather than private transport, and avoid air travel; and in some cases reduce travel by using telephone conferences. When we travel by air we offset carbon emissions.
We are working to use less paper, by encouraging online applications and sharing documents electronically.
When our offices were built in 1991 we insisted on maximum environmental standards. Standards and technology have now moved on, but we seek to meet high standards when making repairs or improvements. After commissioning an environmental audit of our building we made several changes including to lighting and heating.
We plan to commission an environmental audit of our operations in the next twelve months.

November 2011