Our carbon footprint

If the world is to avoid disastrous climate change, fossil fuel use must fall dramatically in the next 20 years. This will mean significant changes to how people live and work. 

At the Paris climate talks in 2015, we called on governments to shift rapidly away from fossil fuels and set tough targets on greenhouse gas emissions. If we're to speak credibly and encourage others to take action on this issue, we must lead by example. 

At the close of the COP26 climate change talks in Glasgow, Christian Aid announced plans to halve its carbon emissions by 2030.  

Christian Aid is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, with ambition of achieving this by 2045.

Environmental sustainability, alongside climate justice, is a key part of our business and operational strategy. 

Christian Aid set new targets of a 40% reduction in emissions, from its 2019/20 baseline, by 2024/25 and at least a 50% reduction by 2029/30. This is in line with 2018 IPCC targets identified as necessary to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
 
As part of this plan, Christian Aid has agreed to minimise the post-pandemic flights bounce-back to no more than 50% of pre-pandemic levels, alongside further reductions in printing footprint and greater use of local renewably-generated energy in offices.  We're also looking at new technologies to further reduce and eliminate emissions.  

Christian Aid has signed up to decarbonisation targets that represent a stronger commitment than standard net-zero target, as they include a clear, short-term reduction pathway in line with 1.5 degrees. We recognise there'll be residual emissions and will work to eliminate these.