Our latest newsletter is now available introducing Flavio, our Wildlife Warden Coordinator, and providing information on Zero Carbon Britain from CAT in Wales, the CCC’s 6th Carbon Budget and Pathway, our articles in the Mid-Devon Advertiser and Greta Thunberg at 18, with her documentary “I am Greta”
If you are a signed up member and didn’t receive a copy let Paul know otherwise view the newsletter here.
David Attenborough’s new book, A Life on Our Planet, should be on everyone’s Christmas gift list. Ask for it, or give it. If nothing else can persuade people of the urgency of tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies, perhaps this will.
Even if you are already convinced, Attenborough’s Witness Statement delivers a powerful jolt. I watched the film of the same title (available on Netflix) and was horrified; reading the book reinforces that reaction as the facts are laid out on the page.
Luckily, the Witness Statement comes with a Vision for the Future. We can “once again become a species in harmony with nature” if we act now, says Attenborough. “All we require is the will.”
The positive message goes a long way to offset the appalling facts. I was particularly struck by this statistic: wild mammals account for just 4%, that’s four in 100, of the mass of all the mammals on Earth. Humans make up a third, with the remainder, more than 60%, being domestic mammals, mainly cows, pigs and sheep.
Most of the birds on our planet are chickens, insect numbers are in steep decline, and there is not a beach in the world unpolluted by our waste. That’s not to mention we are on course for 4C of global warming by 2100 as things stand. That’s more than double the 1.5C target we hope to stay within.
Attenborough’s primary solution to our problems is rewilding. This nature-based approach to capturing and storing carbon is by far the best. It’s what the world’s ecosystems had been doing effectively for thousands of years to maintain a stable climate before humans interfered on a massive scale. Such a project, undertaken alongside global cuts in carbon emissions, “would be the ultimate win-win – carbon storage and biodiversity gain all in one”, says Attenborough.
To move forward though, we will have to abandon our addiction to economic growth, at least as currently defined. A new model is needed to guide us to a more sustainable lifestyle; Attenborough suggests the Doughnut Model developed by Kate Raworth, an economist at the University of Oxford. This defines a safe space that takes account of the planetary boundaries we need to live within and of the need to share resources more evenly so no one is short of the necessities for human wellbeing.
Attenborough may not have all the answers, but he does have an influential voice. Let’s help people hear it.
Our latest newsletter is now available including information on a number of topics including the start of our Wildlife Warden scheme, the new Economy & Business group, Retrofitting and Teignbridge District Council’s Ecological Emergency declaration.
If you are a signed up member and didn’t receive a copy let Paul know otherwise view the newsletter here.
Our latest Newsletter is now available, covering the showing of the film 2040, the Regenerate Devon summit and our current work with local councils, our carbon calculator and lobbying our MPs.
Our latest Newsletter is now available, covering current work, our new Economy & Business group and thoughts on a post-virus Green recovery.
Action on Climate in Teignbridge’s November Newsletter.
ACT’s sub-groups have submitted a wide range of policies for the Teignbridge Local Plan Review. We have a web site.
Action on Climate in Teignbridge’s November Newsletter.
ACT members have been busy!
ACT‘s sub-groups have submitted a wide range of policies for the Teignbridge Local Plan Review – with Fuad and Jules making especially important inputs to the Built Environment areas, where the 2019 Amended Climate Act is changing carbon targets for the better. Our Group is now working closely with the Council on a range of different subjects and we are very happy to be forming this close relationship.
Sub-groups: If there is an ACT sub-group that you would like to join, then do let us know by clicking on update your preferences. We currently have these six sub-groups: Built Environment, Food, Farming and Forestry (3Fs), Ecology, Procurement, Public Engagement and Transport. If getting to meetings is difficult, don’t worry, we have several members who email comments when we send the agendas round – we really value your input!
ACT‘s new website is going to be up and running very soon! Enormous thanks to Jules for his hard work and expertise – we think it is going to be a great asset.
Dartmoor National Park: Nearly one third of our Teignbridge Parishes are within, or partly within, Dartmoor National Park. So, a group of us will be meeting their Chief Executive, Kevin Bishop, very soon to discuss the best ways of working together on the Dartmoor Climate and Ecological Emergency. We are also working with groups that have been formed on the Moor.
Councils who have declared a Climate Emergency – or who are thinking of it – are asking for advice and presentations to help them write Climate Action Plans. ACT has been putting together a Parish Pack, with a wide range of information, from Declaring a Climate Emergency to setting up a Community Fridge or a Community Garden. There is also an increasing demand for ACT’s interactive Climate Change talks around the District – with particular interest in what we can all do in our own lives. Get in touch if you or your Council would like more information.
Funding: We have gone from having just a few pounds in the pot to having £500! Cllr Richard Keeling (Chair of Teignbridge District Council) and Cllr Lorraine Evans have each given us £250 from their Councillors ‘pot’ that they can give to organisations that help their local communities. We’re very grateful!
Forthcoming Events:
Thursday 5th December: Now that we know who our candidates are, we’re inviting them all (Newton Abbot and Central Devon) to a Local Candidates Climate Change Question Time at Coombeshead Theatre. As soon as we have their responses, we will be sending out invitations to ACT members and members of local climate change organisations (not to the general public). When you book your place, you can also submit a question. We will select a representative set of questions that we can ask them on the night.
A Climate Forum for Councillors: this will be in the New Year and will be an opportunity for our District, Town and Parish Councillors to ‘get up to speed’ on climate issues. It will also be a great opportunity for everyone to share ideas and find out which are working best!
And finally:
We need to talk about Christmas…
In our imagination we see happy friends and families cuddled up together on the sofa, sharing a delicious meal or walking across a snowy hillside. No wonder we look forward to our mid-winter festival!
But the reality is different – with stressed parents dashing around trying to achieve this impossible dream, while avoiding borrowing too much more money; anxious grandparents trying to buy the right gift tokens for their grandchildren. Everyone doing their best to work out what everyone wants for the festive season.
So, what do we want for Christmas and the New Year? What better present could we give to our young people than hope for the future of their world?
So, why don’t we put more of our efforts into fighting climate change? Is it because advertising has ‘programmed’ us to shop? Is it because shopping gives us a quick ‘high’ – followed by some nasty doubts when we get home? Is it because we can make shopping decisions on our own – but to tackle climate change effectively, we need to work together?
Whatever the reason, could a simple Christmas with tiny, plastic-free presents and moderate amounts of local food make us happier?
Just think of the TIME we’d save – time to be together.
Think of the MONEY we’d save – no loans to repay.
Think how much less FOOD would be wasted – and how much less STUFF would be binned.
Less ships carrying plastics around the world, less intensive food production, less CO2 emissions.
Surely we could try!
Welcome to the first of what will become a quarterly newsletter.
Firstly, and somewhat belatedly a massive THANK YOU to all who attended our Climate Summit meeting. Especially for all the great suggestions you’ve given us, we’ve already used those in our work discussions the district council.
So, what’s been happening since the Climate Summit meeting on 4th July 2019?
We’ve been busy setting up structures and starting lots of initiatives. We’ve managed a lot, but now need more people to get actively involved and help us deliver some of the things you’ve told us are important.
The Coordination group have held regular meetings. As a result, we have agreed to call our group – Action on Climate in Teignbridge (ACT for short). We have formulated our group’s aims, working structure and responsibilities in our Terms of Reference document. ACT’s mission is to assist, encourage and help Teignbridge District Council and town and parish councils, community groups and residents in the district to act together to realise the Carbon Zero target of 2025.
ACT’s Coordination group are positioning themselves to become the main point of contact between all other like minded groups, Town and Parish councils and individuals across Teignbridge. Offering help and guidance and sharing best work practices.
We have also formed the following specialist working groups: Built Environment, Transport, Food-Farming-Forestry, Ecology, Fundraising, Procurement and PR. Meetings of the Built Environment, the three F’s and Ecology have already taken place. Meetings of both Transport and PR are planned.
Please contact me to find out more about what help we need.
ACT’s proposal to Teignbridge District Council, will be considered and voted on Tuesday the 24th September. You can read this and the council’s proposed plans under item 9 of the agenda for the full council meeting.
Our main activities over the next month or so will be; updating our web site, contacting groups and all Parish and Town councils across Teignbridge to become part of this community initiative.
We will also continue working on our legal structure and plan to hold an inaugural AGM in November. This will include the election of officers.
Reading this through prior to sending it out, it does seem slightly boring and matter of fact, but the people involved with these groups are quite inspiring, fun and very passionate. Although some might comment “I do need to get out more”
If you have any questions, ideas or would like to help please contact me.
This email is to update you on what has been happening since the meeting on 4th July. We’ve been busy organising the next stage of Teignbridge Climate Emergency Action Group’s (TCEAG’s) work, and collating all the suggestions made at the meeting.
One of the first tasks is to set up a Steering Group to take over from the four of us. We have contacted everyone who expressed interest in being part of this subgroup, and invited them to its first meeting this Friday. The meeting will discuss what the steering group’s role should be, and, in particular, the best way to support existing and new initiatives around Teignbridge which help deliver the Council’s zero carbon target. The group will share the results of its meeting with everyone.
The steering group might well decide there should be sub-groups, for Food, Farming, Transport and other themes. If so, and you have expressed interest in one of the themes, you should receive an email next week about joining that subgroup.
For those who can’t wait or are not too keen on meetings, our facebook group is a good place to find out about some existing local initiatives, and have conversations to start new ones. There are many local initiatives you can be involved with. So why not have a conversation and exchange some ideas there.
The other thing worth mentioning is that momentum to take action is growing across the district. More and more parish councils are declaring climate emergencies, and Dartmoor National Park Authority has just done so (also with at 2025 target date). We are moving as quickly as we can so that TCEAG can respond to these developments, but, of course, please do contact and work with your local council direct. Many of them will be unsure what action to take to deliver on their declarations.
Finally, we want to make you aware that we have set up a mailing list with your name, email, location and areas of interest on MailChimp. You can change your details (or remove them completely) using the links below. We will, of course, keep your personal details private, and only use these to contact you about the Teignbridge Climate Emergency Action Group’s work.
Looking forward to working with you all
Penny, Andrew, Audrey & Fuad
