The UK government has set targets to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

The non-commercial Fit for the Future Network will make it possible sustainability experts and energy champions across charities and land-owning organisations to learn from each other and share best practice about how to reduce their carbon footprint. Members will work together to minimise their use of carbon and improve their resilience against rising energy costs.

“Our coastlines are crumbling and we are battling new pests, diseases, droughts and floods as a result of climate change,” said National Trust director general Helen Ghosh. “It’s a serious issue for us all. As a conservation charity, it’s also unacceptable that our energy costs could increase by millions of pounds over the next decade. To tackle these issues, we’ve set ourselves ambitious targets to use 20 per cent less energy, halve our fossil fuel use and generate 50 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020. But, like others, we need support to achieve these targets.”

The National Trust looks after around 255,000 hectares of UK land, more than 300 historic buildings and 742 miles of coastline. It won an Ashden Gold Award in 2012 for its energy efficiency and renewable energy achievements in Wales.