Results tagged “climate change” from Transition Newent

Like many of you, I guess, disappointment quickly follows the purchase of supermarket sourced summer fruit picked too early for flavour to have developed. Imported peaches and apricots are often a big let down after promising much; before the inside is properly ripe, rot rapidly sets in on the surface and texture and taste leave much to be desired. But have you tried the Newent apricot yet? (...continue reading ...)

Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle

Recycling has become an important part of central and local governments' response to halting climate change and reducing our carbon footprints. The new coalition government has suggested that to raise the UK's recycling rate (currently about 34% compared with, for example, Germany's 64%) they will be adopting a 'carrot' rather than 'stick' approach. Instead of penalising households who throw too much away, we could be persuaded to improve our recycling rates with the inducement of M&S vouchers, the bigger our recycling boxes, the more vouchers we would get. Notwithstanding the assumption that we might all like M&S vouchers, I have serious misgivings about an approach which seems to encourage yet more consumption and more waste, so I spoke to Roger Garbett, Environmental Services Manager at the District Council for his reaction.  (...read more)

A Cultural Transition Too

 Culture is, among other things, what people do to make sense of their lives, so in a world of confusion and uncertainty, our cultural lives must be vital to our personal and communal wellbeing. So often though, 'culture' has become a consumerist process - something we have to buy into and enjoy in a largely passive way.

Naturally, the Transition movement considers the long-term effects of climate change and peak oil and sees a sustainable future in more localized, participative communities. These views also inform how people will be entertained and how they will shape their own cultural identities.  (...read more ...)

'The Heat is On!' by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

Changing Climate No Conspiracy

I wish I could report that climate change science is bunkum. The recent uproar concerning the University of East Anglia's emails and the IPCC's data has clearly damaged public perception of climate change so I think it's important to stress the overwhelming evidence for man-made climate change. It is continually reaffirmed by independent researchers throughout the world including the British Antarctic Survey, NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who for eight of the past nine years were funded by Bush's sceptical Republican administration.  (read more .....)

For those of you still unconvinced of the seriousness of the situation, let me recap.  ...  (more) ...

2010 will be a vital year in the history of climate change. In December 2009, the world meets in Copenhagen and must thrash-out formulae for reducing world carbon emissions if we are to avoid climate catastrophe.

In Newent we are holding a strategy meeting for all interested people on Saturday morning, November 7th to discuss how, in 2010 and beyond, Transition Newent can provide local solutions to the twin threats of climate change and peak oil, solutions that we hope will be re-inforced by the 'Copenhagen Agreement'. 

Come along and join in the discussion at Newent Community School, November 7th, 9.30 am to 1.00 pm.

As background to the meeting, John Tiere has put together a report entitled Transition Newent: Our Progress So Far. This document lists our activities to date and possible pointers to the direction we could be taking.

Click here to read/download the pdf file:  newsletter_0809.pdf 

 Click here to read/download your personal workshop invitation: Next_Steps.pdf

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

It’s Time for a New Attitude to Energy Use

In the fight against climate change, recent events have given me two reasons to be cheerful. Firstly at national level, Secretary of State Ed Milliband, presented a Climate Change white paper last week describing it gratifyingly as a ‘Transition plan for Britain’.

Laying out a roadmap for future carbon reduction, the paper gives energy-using sectors clear targets. For instance, by 2020 compared to 2008 levels our homes must reduce emissions by 30%. This white paper marks the dawn of a renewable energy era for Britain and in the run-up to the global climate summit in Copenhagen this December let’s hope Milliband’s paper will be the catalyst for international action.

Secondly, and much closer to home, the village of Kempley lies in unspoilt farmland to the north-west of Newent. It’s claims to fame include daffodils and the architectural splendours of its two churches, St Mary’s with its 12^th century frescoes and St Edward’s built in 1903 and described by John Betjeman as ‘a miniature cathedral of the arts and crafts movement’.

To these claims, Kempley can now add its Saturday Market and Café. It opened this month and I joined over 150 others in a packed village hall where enticing fresh local produce and delicious home-made cakes and coffee were on sale. The market and café will be held on the second Saturday of each month from 9.30 to 11.30am. What better way of helping to make a community more resilient to climate change and peak oil? 

A last thought:  Even if we manage to produce perfect low-carbon transport, do we want to continue to endure gridlocked roads, long-distance commuting, crowded airport lounges, and trains with standing room only? Isn’t the trick to rein-in our desire and need to travel? We must adopt greener technologies but also use simple solutions like car-sharing, more cycling and walking and often just enjoying where we are. 

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

Ways to cut our Carbon Footprint

June hasn’t turned out quite as hot and sunny as some predicted. Apart from a few glorious days, the month has been generally cloudy with chilly evenings and some heavy storms. But this is just weather, not climate; global temperature trends point upwards and each of us needs to consider how we can reduce our personal carbon footprint.

Current average UK emissions per person are 12.5 tonnes of CO2 each year. The UK’s proposed target of 80% reduction by 2050 means a personal annual emission of 2.5 tonnes of CO2. If we share emissions among the world’s population our ration would be just 1.5 tonnes so we have a long way to go.  As examples, a return flight to New Zealand racks up 12 tonnes, a whole year’s average emission; a Far East trip, 6.4 tonnes but a rail journey from Gloucester to Madrid would generate just 115 kg. To calculate your own carbon footprint, go on-line, for example, to:  www.resurgence.org/resources/  

Improved insulation, efficient heating systems and renewable energy technologies can yield substantial financial savings and considerably reduce carbon footprints. Of course this can cost money but there is help at hand from many organisations.

Here in the Forest of Dean, the Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) based in Highnam offers advice on energy-related topics and administers grant applications.  I am currently having a solar hot water system fitted and have been able to claim grants of £1400.00: £400 from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme plus the £1000.00 Gloucestershire-specific Renewable Energy Grant. SWEA was able to sort out my application and confirm the grant within a few days. SWEA tell me there’s lots more money available at the moment for similar projects.  Contact them now to discuss your requirements on 01452 835060 or go to www.swea.co.uk

‘The Heat is On!’ by Chris Wooldridge of Transition Town Newent

We have to make our own cakes

That once vast wilderness, the North Pole ice cap, is melting into the oceans after yielding key evidence that human activity is causing climate change. Deep in the ice layers, are stored the historic records of atmospheric carbon dioxide and drillings have confirmed we are moving into the first human-created climatic age.  In truth, unless we radically rethink the way we live, we will lose more than Bewick’s swans from Slimbridge.

Climate change is well publicized, but we face another global challenge, Peak Oil. This is the point at which world oil production peaks and begins to fall. It will be offset by the current global recession but makes little difference to our future. At current consumption, the oil that has enabled our high standards of living will run out before the end of the century. 

The Transition movement is very clear about solutions to this double whammy.  We believe there is time left in which to curb emissions but the world may have to accommodate some temperature rise. We support and encourage the 3 Rs: recycling, re-using and reducing, but our key message is for communities to localise their economies and to encourage local resilience. Currently we import our cake; sometimes we make the cherry that goes on top. In future we must make the cake.

If this sounds rather frightening, consider how local networks encourage friendship, industry and support.  The other day someone said to me, “I’ve got a great social life now. Since I joined Transition I could be out almost every night.”

We still need nation states to sign on to global emission targets and structures to guarantee social justice but it is the local actions of all of us that will count.

In future column I hope to explore these local issues in more detail.