There has been a lull in the number of Councils declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ since our last Newsletter, no doubt due to the local elections. With the Greens gaining 185 seats across the country, there will no doubt be many more motions put to Councils soon. Climate & Ecological Emergencies are being declared by a wide range of organisations, including Universities (GlasgowNewcastle, Bristol), Museums, Art Galleries, as well as individuals. Find out more at Culture Declares.

Let me know if you’re a Councillor or Council officer and you’re interested in joining others in applying to set up a Local Government Association Special Interest Group on Climate& Ecological Change. This will give us support in organising meetings and hopefully push the Climate Emergency up the agenda of the LGA

Please do use Basecamp for online discussions and sharing of information relating to the Climate and Ecological Emergency. You can also ask, as Kirklees Climate Group have, to set up an online group for your own local group or Council.

Council’s across the UK are invited to join the One Planet City Challenge. Participation of the OPCC is free and aligns with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Common Reporting Framework and its reporting commitments via the Carbon Disclosure Project. After analyzing a city’s reported climate data, WWF will provide feedback and guidance to OPCC cities on the alignment of a city’s policies and actions with the 1.5 °C global warming goal, based on reported data. Please see attached a brochure on the OPCC (2019-2020) which provides more information.  You can also see more on www.panda.org/opcc.

You can browse the Action Plans that have been produced by 35 UK Councils who have signed up to the Covenant of Mayors here. We’re expecting that the plans produced following Climate Emergency declarations will be much more ambitious than most of these, but they provide examples to build on.

You or your Council may not know about the Local Energy Hubs that have been set up by BEIS to support local energy initiatives. ‘Local energy’ refers to all energy projects that are led by local organisations (public, private, third sector) for local benefit. All aspects of collective action to reduce, purchase, manage and generate energy are included within ‘local energy.’

Greenpeace have come up with a draft Climate Emergency Plan. Do read it and give them feedback.

Listen to Book of the Week on Radio 4 Losing Earth: The Decade we could have stopped Climate Change by Nathaniel Rich “By 1979, we knew nearly everything we understand today about climate change–including how to stop it. Over the next decade, a handful of scientists, politicians, and strategists, led by two unlikely heroes, risked their careers in a desperate, escalating campaign to convince the world to act before it was too late. Losing Earth is their story, and ours”

Watch Dr. Simon Pickering talking about Stroud’s Declaration of a Climate Emergency. The Gloucestershire Sustainable Energy Strategy that he recommends reading is available here.

Ireland has declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ based on the Oireachtas Climate Action report which followed on from a Citizen’s Assembly. “The proposals agreed by the Assembly over the course of just two weekends revealed the capacity of citizens to analyse, weigh up and decide on a course of action for their country – and to do so as a collective. The outcomes are clear, feasible and courageous.” There were only 6 TD’s in the Dail when the Emergency was declared, so it remains to be seen how much ownership of the decision will be taken by the Irish Government in the coming weeks.

Events

Monday 13th May 7pm Change.org  Facebook Live Climate Emergency Declaration Action Plans

May 21st, 2019 11am -11.55am. WWF Zoom Science-based targets for cities, evidence based climate action planning, the One Planet City Challenge, and the Paris Agreement. 

“We guide participants on how to achieve science based targets, and evidence based climate action planning based on different tools designed for the WWF One Planet City Challenge.  To help concentrate ambition and catalyze action, the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) supports joining cities to show that they have science-based emissions reduction targets that align with a 1.5 °C future and are supported by evidence-based climate action planning.”

Saturday 8th June, 9.30am-5pm London 10:10 Training Day to get your MP to take Climate Action  The day will include: an introduction to MP culture and the relationship approach to working with MPs; creating a tailored lobbying strategy for your constituency; top tips from a local activist; conversation techniques; the low-down on our onshore wind campaign.

Do send your suggestions for inclusion in this email.

Best Wishes,

Cllr. Kevin Frea