Sustainability
Scouting and Sustainability
Scouts Australia is a leading youth development organisation in Australia, with in excess of 110 years of experience and success in developing well-rounded, active citizens through the Scout Method. Through our partnerships and global membership, we commit to driving lasting sustainability in line with the United Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development (the SDGs). We are committed to actions that match our values; this includes working with our partners and other members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) to take action through the Scouts for SDGs movement.
Scouts for SDGs is the world’s largest coordinated youth activation involving 50 million young people in two million local actions related to the 17 Goals and delivering an additional three billion hours of community service for the SDGs. Our Scouts Australia Sustainability Strategy confirms our commitment to action. We recognise that through our program, actions and operations, we can support sustainable development – meeting our needs now without compromising future generations’ capability to meet their own needs.
Our actions include driving for action on climate change, supporting equity in our communities, preserving our natural environment, delivering quality non-formal education programs and many other initiatives by Scouts from across Australia. Through our action we demonstrate our values and commitment, and hope to inspire our local communities to join us in creating a better world.
We appointed our first Assistant National Commissioner – Sustainability in May 2018, adding Diversity & Inclusion to the portfolio so it addressed all parts of the SDGs. Since then we have:
- launched an updated Australian Scout Environment Charter (modernized by the National Environment Team and collaborators to include addressing the SDGs);
- commenced work on our inaugural Scouts Australia Sustainability Strategy & Action Plan (including actions at a National, Branch and Group/local level);
- created a National Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Team and appointed a National Adviser Diversity & Inclusion;
- developed a draft National Diversity & Inclusion Standard (which is currently working through Scouts Australia’s review and approvals process).
We are proud of what we have achieved so far, and excited about what comes next. Check out the Scouts Australia Sustainability Strategy & Action Plan page to find out what you can do to be part of it.
You can also learn more about #Scouts4SDGs – a campaign to build awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, and encourage Scouts to take action. Check out the page to see ways that you can join in – even as part of Scouting at Home.