Localism, CSR and the environment

A CSR project which takes the fight against climate change down to a local level is hoping others will follow its example.

LACRe (Local Alliance for Climate Responsibility) believes that public-private partnerships at a local level can impact on emissions reductions.

It sees local business being at the heart of the local low carbon economy, with their CSR strategies playing a key role. As its model, it uses that of the Copenhagen Centre which states its goal as "people and organisations coming from some public, private and civic entities/bodies which are engaged in voluntary, mutually beneficial and innovative relations with the aim of dealing/pursuing with social goals by putting together their own resources and competencies."

In order to help spread the word, LACRe has published a 'step by step guide', outlining both their philosophy, but also how they see it working.

The project's logic is based on the fact that Kyoto targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction are territorial. Consequently, every area in that territory has its own responsibility to contribute towards the reduction. It is not just the responsibility of the national government; local communities must also play their part.

When it comes to climate change at a local level, businesses, local government and residents are closely linked. The LACRe document argues that, at a very local level, all can work together to improve the efficiency of production and consumption processes.

It calls for 'a virtuous circle of Corporate Social Responsibility' - recognising the various connected elements of sustainability. From a CSR perspective, the economic crisis, energy crisis, environmental crisis and food crisis are all interlinked.

This project sees CSR as really referring to Corporate Stakeholder Responsibility - and highlights the need to include stakeholders in the decision-making process for business. It refers to 'Circles of Responsibility' as a way of all those in a community interacting with each other. Each 'circle' has a role in maintaining the sustainability of the area in which they live or work.

The idea of a more extensive and inclusive social responsibility begins with business but spreads out to include all major players within a community. These include local government and the local residents. This is because all these people have an interest in the area's wealth and success - and consequently in its sustainability.

Using environment as the central element of responsibility, LACRe has developed an example of a 'Circle of Responsibility' which it believes could work as a pilot for other areas. It creates a temporary network of 'mutual responsibility' between businesses and other interested parties in order to achieve a common goal. (For example, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions).

This project is an interesting example of how environmental co-operation might be achieved within a local area and is worth consideration. The only difficulty is that it is written in such torturous English that it is extremely hard to navigate. However, with some spare time in a quiet room, a more detailed examination could bear interesting results.

http://www.improntaetica.org/file/docs/LACRE-guidelines.pdf

Photo credit: Reinde R Rustema