European Sustainability Forum: Moving towards climate impact

3 minutes
European Sustainability Forum
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© World Scout Bureau Inc.

The first European Sustainability Forum concluded on Sunday, 23 October with the creation of a new European network of representatives from National Scout Organizations (NSOs), National Scout Associations (NSAs) and other partners to strengthen efforts that promote greater sustainability in their organisations.

In total, 56 Scout leaders from 31 NSOs and NSAs exchanged best practices in sustainability around organisational operations, as well as for educational programmes and initiatives during the four-day event. Participants also highlighted actions that NSOs and NSAs are taking within the European Region and beyond to reduce Scouting’s impact on the environment.

“Scouts are responsible for caring for people and the planet,” said Abigail McFarlane, a representative of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. ”[They] are well suited to contribute to the climate conversation due to our worldwide reach in educating and empowering young people”.

The Forum also focused on ways to embed education for sustainable development into the Youth  Programme, enabling Scouts from across Europe to engage in discussions and advance a common agenda for sustainability.

“Sustainability has already been incorporated into some organisations’ national activities and guidelines, and others are stepping up efforts to make it a priority,” said Pinja Salhoja, a member of the Forum’s planning team. “The event will further stimulate national efforts on sustainability issues”.

The Forum was organised with the support of Alwaleed Philanthropies, a key partner in Scouting's efforts to mobilise young people to take positive action in their communities. The event took place at the Houens Odde Scout Centre in Denmark from 20 to 23 October ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt where Scouts have been on the ground to advocate for climate action among political and business leaders.

The Forum served as an opportunity to share the key strengths and challenges facing Member Organizations in environmental sustainability. “We heard positive examples like efforts for zero-waste summer camps, noted the global action plan for sustainability with areas including travel, energy use, waste and suppliers,” highlighted Boris Vujnović, a member of the European Scout Committee. “We also heard challenges relating to international travel, shifting mindsets and the financial resources needed to implement the desired changes”.

Looking ahead, World Scouting is working towards the development of a Climate Impact Strategy as part of its commitment to becoming a fully climate-neutral organisation by 2033. The strategy will put the World Scout Bureau, through its operations in eight offices worldwide, on a path to fully reducing and compensating its carbon output. Scouting will additionally make tools and resources available to NSOs to follow the same path towards climate neutrality and unite the Movement around a shared goal.