We are proud to play an active part in the global movement to overcome climate change
We are proud to launch our inaugural Climate Action Plan – a timely and much needed plan that will enable the National Trust to contribute tangible and meaningful action to address the climate and biodiversity crisis.
We know that the climate and biodiversity crisis is the single biggest and fastest growing threat to people and cultural heritage worldwide. The increasing concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are accelerating this crisis and contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events, such as floods, droughts, and bushfires. These impacts cause severe damage to our environment and infrastructure, and pose serious threats to our beloved heritage places including, buildings, landscapes, gardens, and trees.
We recognise that if new strategies to mitigate and adapt to these changes are not initiated and actioned immediately, these impacts will have an unprecedented and irreversible effect on our cultural heritage, our connection to place, and our way of life.
While the challenge of this crisis is immense, and at times overwhelming, the National Trust feels strongly that we must play an active role in identifying and implementing solutions. In order for Victoria’s heritage to be protected, celebrated and understood, we need a healthy and safe climate future so that our communities can thrive.We believe that the National Trust – and our beloved heritage places – have a unique role and opportunity to champion solutions to address this crisis.
We commit to using our platform as Victoria’s leading independent and grassroots voice for heritage, to advocate for creative and innovative policy, planning, and design solutions that can achieve carbon reduction. This is in line with our mission to protect and celebrate our natural, cultural, social, and Indigenous heritage; we must use our position to ensure that industry and government take notice, and that the threats that the climate and biodiversity crisis poses to our shared heritage are addressed.
Most importantly, we must look inward and reflect on the ways in which we can improve our own operations and impact. As an established community leader, educator, and caretaker of Victoria’s heritage, this unique role comes with significant responsibility.
The National Trust is a strong advocate for conservation and sustainability in our built and natural environments. Read some of our most recent stories encouraging climate resilience through government planning in our Trust Advocate Blog.
We are proud to play an active part in the global movement to overcome climate change and believe that the challenges and opportunities presented in the implementation of the Climate Action Plan will make us a more relevant, meaningful, and dynamic organisation.
READ CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
