Deadline: 21 August 2017
The Sustainable Future Program is focused on developing and promoting sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm.
JRCT is deeply concerned about climate change and its effects, and believes that our care for future generations morally compels us to play a part in tackling it.
Funding Priorities
JRCT will support a range of actions to achieve these aims, recognising this might include defending current policies, frameworks and regulations.
Better economics: Current economic systems encourage unsustainable growth and do not adequately reflect the true costs and risks of resource depletion, climate change and other environmental problems. JRCT will fund work that:
- explores and promotes ways that well-being and sustainability, rather than traditional forms of economic growth, could be placed at the heart of public policy
- explores and promotes mechanisms that could better align business and investor behaviour with environmental sustainability and the long-term public interest
- researches and develops innovations and new practical models of enterprise that can be embedded within community practice
- challenges future investment in, or subsidies for, fossil fuels.
Beyond consumerism: There is evidence that the ever higher levels of consumption, once basic needs for security and comfort are met, do not result in greater happiness or well-being. At the same time, such ever-increasing consumption is not environmentally sustainable, and contributes towards social problems including overwork, anxiety and loss of community. JRCT will fund:
- campaigns, initiatives and mechanisms which encourage radical, large scale shifts in behaviour and culture away from consumerism towards more sustainable ways of living and using resources
- exploration of initiatives and models which promote positive alternatives to materialism for a more fulfilled life
- work which engages people individually and collectively in holistic and value-led approaches to transformed behaviour and lifestyle, as an alternative to consumerism.
New voices: In order to create a broad-based, democratic and lasting transition to a low-carbon sustainable society, they need to involve everyone. JRCT is particularly concerned that marginalised groups and young activists have a voice in decisions which affect them. JRCT will fund:
- campaigns and movements that give marginalised or under-represented groups a voice on issues of environmental and economic justice
- initiatives that encourage organisations from outside the traditional environmental field to get involved in environmental justice
- networks that link and support local environmental justice groups
- the replication of innovative local projects to involve New Voices regionally or nationally.
For more information, please visit Sustainable Future Grant Program.