The Green Footsteps Guide

We are so fortunate to have an inspiring and active Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Cornwall that is passionate about working together and protecting our beautiful county. The work we see happening right across the Duchy would not happen without the dedicated army of volunteers pouring their hearts into this work, supporting our VCSE, on behalf of us all who live, work and play here.

What is the Green Footsteps Guide?

The Green Footsteps Guide is a toolkit for the VCSE sector to digest and develop ways for their organisation to take first steps in becoming more sustainable and resilient to current and future impacts of climate change.

This toolkit is designed to be used by anyone within your organisation, from volunteers to chief executives. Regardless of your education, organisational area or background. We hope this guide will be an asset to your organisation and your local communities and you feel confident taking your next steps in this journey regardless of whether your organisation is rooted in climate activism or unrelated.

Whilst this guide contains information specific to Cornwall and the VCSE sector, there are plenty of take-home messages and resources which apply to individuals and community organisations beyond Cornwall.

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illustration showing a flooded Cornwall town

Why create the Green Footsteps Guide?

Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate (IPCC, 2018). Rising temperatures alter the climate increasing the number of extreme weather events globally, this has a knock-on effect on our oceans, human health, food security and global biodiversity.

At the inaugural Climate and Environment Alliance in June 2023, Cornwall VSF declared a climate emergency on behalf of the sector. We acknowledge that Cornwall faces its own unique set of challenges. So, we have featured information tailored to mitigating and adapting to these challenges for Cornish residents. As community-focused organisations it is essential that we take action to mitigate these effects.

illustration shows a picturesque Cornwall landscape with a house, birds and wind turbines in the background

There is not a lack of information on the impacts of climate change and how to be more ‘eco-friendly’. So much so that trying to take your first steps on the path to becoming more sustainable can be extremely overwhelming. The Green Footsteps Guide is a collection of concise well-researched, evidence-based guidance to support you to take your first steps to becoming greener.

We must continually adapt to the obstacles presented to us by the changing climate to maintain our resilience. Therefore, the Green Footsteps Guide is an adaptive resource which will evolve and change overtime with the environmental and socio-economic climate from feedback given by YOU – the reader, and our VCSE colleagues.

Watch our online introductory workshop to the Green Footsteps Guide with Kirstie Edwards, Engagement Manager.

illustration shows three people litter picking on a Cornwall beach

This project was in part, to say thank you for all the work our VCSE organisations do in our communities – for us to help in return, by taking this wealth of collective knowledge held by climate and environmental professionals and make it available to all.

Whilst the Green Footsteps Guide would not have been created without the amazing content contributors, we would also like to thank the project funders, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, Cornwall Council and Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum.

Funding from these key organisations, has enabled the Green Footsteps Guide to come to fruition.