Community Climate Action Network

Community Climate Action Newsletter - July 2019

Welcome to the Community Climate Action newsletter, with all the latest news, events and resources in Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Derby and Derbyshire. A special hello to new subscribers.

Our events survey, which is asking what kind of events you would like us to run for climate change-focused community groups in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby & Derbyshire in the next nine months, is still open. It will take just a few minutes to complete: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S2GD3LJ

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Got Any News?

Most of the items in this newsletter are contributed by readers. If you have anything you’d like us to include in the August e-newsletter please send it to caroline.harmon@mea.org.uk by Friday 31^st July.

Local Events

The Time is Now Tour
Friday 12^th July, 7pm-9:30pm
Landau Forte College, Derby
Organised by Extinction Rebellion Derby

Extinction Rebellion has grown enormously since the Declaration of Rebellion in Parliament Square on 31^st October 2019. There are now over 130 groups in the UK and many are keen to hear what the next steps are for Extinction Rebellion. This evening will involve an open a discussion with Roger Hallam (XR Co-founder and Coordinator of UK Actions Circle). This is your chance to have your say in what happens next.

Book: http://bit.ly/30w3Jc6

Pledge, Protect, Connect
Saturday 13^th July, 10am-4pm
The Nightingale Centre, Grest Hucklow
Organised by Peak District National Park Authority
FREE

Could you plant a bee and insect-friendly garden? Harness power from nature? Reduce your use of plastics? There are so many ways to live a greener lifestyle – and people living in and around the Peak District National Park can learn more at this special event, being held as part of the national Year of Green Action initiative. It will bring together community groups who are already making a difference and those looking for inspiration.

Speakers include:

Neil Cutts from Surfers Against Sewage, speaking about creating a Plastic Free Community network through Plastic Free Anglesey, to free where they live from single-use plastic and introducing their new initiative, Plastic Free Schools.

Mike Joseph, who masterminded hydroelectric-powered Christmas lights in Bradwell.

Attendees will be invited to make a pledge to do something positive for their environment as part of the Year of Green Action. The park authority is also offering community small grants to help people get their projects up and running.

http://bit.ly/2JkjIWr

People Powered Retrofit – Reducing Home Energy Demand
Thursday 18^th July, 7:30pm
Royal Hotel, Hayfield
Organised by Sustainable Hayfield
FREE

If you’re looking to upgrade your home and want to make it more energy efficient and sustainable then this is the talk for you. Jonathan Atkinson of the Carbon Co-op will provide tips on what can be done to radically cut carbon emissions and help avoid runaway climate change. The talk will be preceded by a brief AGM for Sustainable Hayfield.

Generation Share, Book Launch
Monday 22^nd July, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Rough Trade Books, 5 Broad Street, Nottingham
FREE

International speaker and change-maker Benita Matofska and photographer with purpose Sophie Sheinwald, will be launching their new book, Generation Share. Benita and Sophie will share stories of their extraordinary journey to meet the inspiring change-makers who are saving and transforming lives through the Sharing Economy. They will also be joined by Nottingham’s very own changemaker and comedian, the fabulous Natasha Wood, to showcase how this phenomenon is creating a thriving, sustainable and fair future for all. Expect sharing in action and to discover the sharing community right on your doorstep.

http://bit.ly/2LOOUgT

Belper Green Exchange and Repair Café
Saturday 27^th July, 10am-1pm
No 28, Market Place, Belper
Organised by Transition Belper

Come along to find out more about Transition Belper and its activities in Belper. There will be light refreshments of tea, coffee and cakes, a book swap stall and a tetra pak recycling collection point. After a successful debut, a Repair Café will also be present. The idea of Repair Cafés is to mend and repair items that would otherwise be chucked away. If you are a “fixer” and have some time and skills to spare you can volunteer through the facebook page - or contact the Repair Café via email.

Derbyshire Eco Centre Courses

Course at the eco centre, during July and August, include: Build a Wind Turbine and Family Waste Warriors. More information: http://bit.ly/31cpkrl

Local News in Brief:

Nottingham features in this Guardian article about cities going carbon neutral: http://bit.ly/2XFtxG5
A local resident has put together a website to help people cut their carbon footprint: www.co2whattodo.org
Another local resident has begun publishing Changing Times, an online magazine: www.changingtimes.me

National News in Brief

A Global Climate Strike will take place on 20^th September. Workers in 5000 cities in 143 countries have already pledged to take part: http://bit.ly/2xFPKUV
A petition asking for a Green New Deal: http://bit.ly/2XAvWBI
Want to be in a film? http://bit.ly/2G6wHYq

National News

New Report Shows 2018 Was the Toughest Year Yet for Community Energy

The third annual Community Energy – State of the Sector report shows that 2018 was the toughest year yet for community-owned energy, with new generation capacity falling steeply in comparison to previous years. In 2018 just 7.9 MW of new community energy capacity was installed, including 0.7 MW across four micro hydro schemes and 7.2 MW across 47 new solar sites, compared to 33.5 MW of new community energy capacity in 2017.

Emma Bridge, Chief Executive of Community Energy England, the membership body representing over 200 community energy groups and organisations that support and work with the sector said: “The impact of central Government policy on the Community Energy sector is stark – the removal of subsidies like the Feed-In Tariffs; continued planning restrictions around on-shore wind; and still no Social Investment Tax Relief for those willing to invest in community energy projects have severely impacted the sectors ability to create financially viable energy generation schemes.

‘But Community Energy is about much more than renewable energy generation. Local groups have been resiliently working on new ways to ensure that communities can carry out practical climate action. This year we’ve seen a greater focus on energy efficiency programmes and electric vehicles, as well as schemes investigating flexibility services, demand side response, local energy supply and peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. And we must not forget that community energy schemes even in these difficult circumstances are still generating enough electricity to power 64,000 homes; that’s something we are very proud of.’

http://bit.ly/2YOK0nJ

Local News

New Climate Group in Hope Valley Attracts 200 Members

Climate action in the Hope Valley in Derbyshire has been given a new lease of life after a sell-out event, Climate change and what to do about it, saw more than 150 people pack out Hathersage's Memorial Hall in June (see image above). The new group, which will take up the reins from Transition Hope Valley, now has over 200 members and will meet every second Monday of the month at a variety of locations across the valley.

Sign up to the group's mailing list: http://bit.ly/2Sa1U1H. If you are interested in getting actively involved please also email transitionhopevalley@gmail.com.

Nottingham Group Produces Climate Friendly Gardening Resource

Nottingham Growing Network has created an updated pack on gardening in a changing climate as part of their Water Works project, with 40 pages of ideas and information, all linked to web information and 20 How-To-Do-It guides. It is currently available on memory sticks and the group is hoping it will also be online shortly. The work was funded by the Postcode Local Trust and supported by Social Farms and Gardens.

If anyone would like one, please message Windmill Community Gardens via their Facebook page: http://bit.ly/30xw9Cz

Greening Southwell Considers Bulk Purchase Solar Scheme

Greening Southwell has approached 12 local solar PV installer that are willing to do a deal if 10 or more households in and business in the area are interested in installing solar panels to generate green energy. They are likely to be able to get a 10% discount on the cost.

The group is currently asking people to register their interest: http://bit.ly/2XMejdC

List of Climate Emergencies Declared Grows

More local authorities in the area have declared a climate emergency. The list (as far we know – please let us know if we’ve missed anyone) is currently:

North East Derbyshire District Council – declared since our last newsletter
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Rushcliffe Borough Council
Nottingham City Council
Derby City Council
Matlock Town Council – declared since our last newsletter
Wirksworth Town Council
Hayfield Parish Council
Belper Town Council

Meanwhile, Derbyshire County Council has published a Derbyshire Climate and Carbon Reduction Manifesto with the aim of becoming carbon neutral. In the coming weeks the following councils will all debate motions to declare an emergency:

Newark and Sherwood DC, Amber Valley BC, High Peak BC, and Chesterfield BC.

Nationally, 60% of the population of Britain now live in an area which has declared a climate emergency: https://climateemergency.uk/

Free Energy Advice Available by Phone in Derby & Derbyshire

Warmer Derby & Derbyshire (WDD) is a new free energy advice phone line for residents living in Derby & Derbyshire. The phone line offers impartial advice on fuel debt, issues with fuel bills, problems with meters, energy efficiency measures and behavioural change to cut energy use. In some case a follow up home visit is available. At the moment the scheme is particularly helping people to apply for Warm Home Discount (£410 off energy bills for eligible households) ahead of winter and to access funding for broken and faulty boilers to be replaced before autumn arrives.

WDD is a partnership between Marches Energy Agency and local authorities in the area. It is funded by the Energy Redress Scheme, which collects fines from energy companies that have breached rules.

It might be sunny and warm right now, but If you or anyone you know might struggle to heat their home one winter arrives, call 0800 677 1332 or email wdd@mea.org.uk

Chesterfield Residents Offered Gas Appliances

Chesterfield residents are being offered funding to help with servicing or repairing their gas appliances. Chesterfield Borough Council has funding from the Foundations Independent Living Trust, which works in partnership with the Gas Safe Charity, to provide help to:

People aged 60 or older who either receive benefits, have a low income or are registered disabled
People aged over 18 who are registered disabled

Eligible people can get financial help towards the cost of servicing gas appliances, like fires and cookers, and heating systems in their homes. Funding can also pay for minor repair work which is needed to enable them to continue using gas appliances in their home safely.
Anyone who thinks they are eligible can apply to receive this funding by ringing (01246) 345748 or emailing hia@chesterfield.gov.uk

National News

Committee on Climate Change: UK Credibility Rests on Government Action in Next 18 Months

Following recent news that the UK has legislated for net-zero emissions by 2050 (compared to our old target of 80% by 2050), the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has called on the UK government to show it is serious about its legal obligations to tackle and prepare for climate change.

The CCC published two new reports on reducing emissions and preparing for climate change impacts in which it says that UK action to curb greenhouse gas emissions is lagging far behind what is needed, even to meet previous, less stringent, emissions targets. Over the past year, the Government has delivered just 1 of 25 critical policies needed to get emissions reductions back on track. Meanwhile, action to prepare our homes, businesses and natural environment for a warming world is less ambitious than it was ten years ago. Of 33 key sectors assessed by the Committee, none show good progress when it comes to managing climate change risk.

Lord Deben, CCC Chairman, said: “The UK is the first major economy to set a net-zero emissions target and intends to host the world’s leaders at next year’s landmark climate conference (COP26). These are historic steps forward and position the UK at the forefront of the global low-carbon transition. But international ambition does not deliver domestic action. It’s time for the Government to show it takes its responsibilities seriously. Reducing emissions to net zero by 2050, requires real action by Government now.”

http://bit.ly/2YMiUxr

Rural Community Energy Fund Reopens

The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £10 million programme which supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects, which provide economic and social benefits to the community. Funding of up to £40,000 is available for a feasibility study for a renewable energy project. There is also up to £100,000 available for business development and planning of feasible schemes.

The contact for the scheme in the Midlands is Michael Gallagher, who is based in Nottingham: