What does sustainability actually look like for youth movements that span every corner of the world? For the World Scout Bureau (WSB), this is a big question that comes down to a simple concept: understanding where our climate impact comes from.
With the climate emergency worsening, how we steward this planet for future generations matters more than ever. Sustainability is one of the three key pillars of the Strategy for Scouting, and the WSB has set a clear goal: achieving climate neutrality in its operations by 2033.
But we can’t reduce what we haven’t measured.
In 2024, the WSB began its first global effort to measure its carbon footprint across all Support Centres - Kuala Lumpur, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Manila, Nairobi, and Panama. Teams across these offices worked together to collect data on travel, energy use, and daily operations, using internationally recognised methods and a digital carbon accounting platform.
Beyond being a technical exercise, it offered a way to better understand how the WSB operates in practice.
Here’s what the data showed:
- 82% of emissions come from indirect sources, mainly business travel
- 73% of total emissions are linked to travel, especially flights
- Energy use accounts for most of the remaining impact
While these results were not entirely surprising for a global movement built on connections and exchanges, they also showed where the biggest opportunities lie.
The data highlighted that while travel is central to how Scouting operates, it is also where efforts to reduce emissions can have the biggest impact. At the same time, energy use in offices and day-to-day operations remains a key area to address.
With this first baseline now established, the WSB is exploring practical ways to reduce its emissions, including by looking at how travel is planned, how events are organised, and how offices can operate more efficiently. For emissions that can’t be reduced, responsible and ethical approaches to carbon offsetting are also being considered.
Why this matters for NSOs
This isn’t just a story for the WSB. It is also something that every National Scout Organization (NSO) can relate to within their own context.
The WSB’s experience shows that sustainability does not need to start with complex systems or perfect datasets. It can begin with simple questions: Where does our climate impact come from? Which activities matter most? What changes are realistic for us
Even a basic understanding can help organisations take practical steps, whether that means looking at travel, energy use, events, or everyday operations.
Across the Movement, many NSOs are already taking action in different ways. Some are integrating sustainability into their strategies, others are developing tools and training, and many are supporting local sustainability initiatives and advocacy efforts led by young people. These efforts show that while there is no set path to follow, positive change is possible everywhere.
Measuring climate impact is only the start. As we learn more and explore new ideas, our approach will continue to change and improve. At the same time, collaboration across the Movement will be key, with NSOs sharing their experiences, learning from one another, and building on what works.
By taking this first step, the WSB is helping to build a clearer picture of where it stands and where it can go next. It is also an invitation for NSOs to explore their own sustainability journeys in ways that reflect their realities and priorities.
Sustainability in Scouting means more than just cutting emissions. It’s about making everyday choices that will help create a brighter future for young people, our communities, and the planet.