NICVA's Environmental Policy

As set out in our statement of values, NICVA is committed to pursuing social, environmental and economic sustainability.  On 31st March 2021, NICVA agreed its first formal Environmental Policy which is set out below.  The adoption of this policy followed a review of NICVA's environmental practices; the establishment of a staff 'One Planet NICVA Group' to continuously review and improve our environmental practices; and the commissioning of an energy audit and baseline CO2 emissions assessment which has informed our first Net Zero milestone target to reduce our direct (Scope 1&2) CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

NICVA, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, is a membership and representative umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland with over 1100 members ranging from household name charities to grass roots community groups.  We lobby and campaign to advance the interests of the people and communities that our members support, and offer a wide range of practical services, products and support.

As a charity legally constituted to promote the well-being of NI society, and an umbrella body with a sectoral leadership role to play, NICVA recognises its responsibility to manage the impact of its activities on the environment and to act as an example for the voluntary and community sector, with particular regard to our waste management and recycling; energy consumption; event catering, transport and travel; water use; and protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

We are committed to:

• Ensuring we comply with relevant environmental legislation and other requirements which apply to our business

• Preventing pollution arising from our operations

• Maximising efficient use of resources and recycling, and minimising waste

• Reducing our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions so as to achieve a 50% reduction of our direct (Scope 1 & 2) CO2 emissions by 2025 as a first milestone towards achieving Net Zero emissions

• Minimising our direct and indirect impacts on, and enhancing biodiversity

• Setting objectives and targets to achieve continual environmental performance improvement

• Communicating the environmental policy to employees and providing appropriate training

• Making our environmental policy publicly available

Dated: 31st March 2021

Review date: 31st March 2024