We use cookies

Please note that on our website we use cookies to enhance your experience, and for analytics purposes. To learn more about our cookies, please read our Privacy policy. By clicking “Accept Cookies” or by continuing to use our website you agree to our use of cookies.

Story

Everyone’s Environment

Everyone’s Environment is a programme led by NPC, which brings together over 80 social and environmental charities across the UK to accelerate action on the social impacts of the environmental crises.  The environmental crises do not affect all people in the same way; some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised people are worst affected by our changing environment and related policy. Charities and funders therefore have a critical role to play in supporting and empowering different social groups to be part of the solutions. 

How will the climate and nature crises impact people living in poverty? 

Verture is a partner in Everyone’s Environment, and worked with NPC and the Poverty Alliance on ‘people living in poverty’ strand of the programme, which explores how the climate and nature crises will impact people on low incomes across the UK. 

People living in poverty in the UK are more affected by climate change and nature loss than people who are not. This is because they often live in areas with more exposure to environmental impacts and are less able to afford protections to mitigate the effects of environmental crises on their lives. 

We contributed Scotland-focused analysis to a briefing aimed at charities and funders working with people in poverty, and helped to communicate the findings through a series of webinars.  

This briefing is for charities and funders working with people in poverty or on low incomes in the UK. It lists the impacts on people living in poverty of environmental change and environmental policy, including: 

  • Being unable to afford adaptations to their housing in reaction to a changing climate, such as installing insulation or preventing mould. 
  • Being unable to afford to stay cool in heatwaves e.g. electricity costs (fans or lights if the blinds are closed to keep the sun out) and travel costs to get to public green spaces. 
  • Being more likely to experience floods: deprived Scottish neighbourhoods have a higher risk of flooding than more affluent areas 

Participating in Everyone’s Environment supports our focus on helping everyone, in every place, to thrive as our climate changes. Designing our climate adaptation responses so that they prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable places and people, including people in poverty, can ensure that we adapt in a way that is fair, and ensures no-one is left behind. 

Everyone’s Environment has several active strands that focus on different marginalised groups: young people; Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority groups, Disabled people and older people, and people experiencing health inequalities. The research published through the programme is now informing collaboration and advocacy across a coalition of environmental and social charities