Welcome to our
December 2020 issue
What a strange year it has been, so let's hope for better things in 2021! With the second lockdown about to be replaced by local tiered restrictions on indoor meet-ups and numbers at outdoor gatherings (check the current rules for Kingston here), green activities in the real world of Kingston are likely to remain limited, but there are one or two Christmas-themed events coming up – see below. Do please check group websites for updates and changes, and stay safe and well.
Beyond Kingston there is plenty of environmental news, as governments, national and local, respond to public concerns about nature and the climate with targets, action plans and Climate Emergency Declarations. There is almost too much to report in this issue - and possibly too much for you to read - but do scroll right down to the bottom where you'll find some very interesting national (even international) events coming up in the next month or two, and you may spot some useful snippets on the way.
Have as good a Christmas as you can, and remember the Scandi maxim: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes” – so put on some good shoes and waterproofs and enjoy your permitted daily walk!
Next issue: we look forward to hearing about more environmental activities, on-line or in the real world of Kingston, as and when possible - we try to give local news and campaigns top billing, so do please keep them coming in. In any case, please send us your environmental news and updates in good time to feature in the next newsletter which will go out on or just before January 1st. According to Mailchimp, 58% of our 700+ readers frequently click the links in this newsletter and 23% do so sometimes, a good number of engaged readers worth reaching.
If you normally contribute items to this newsletter, or would like to, and haven’t heard from us recently, please subscribe to our contributors’ list via this sign-up form to get our requests and reminders - and make sure they are not disappearing into your spam folder! You can update your own contact details in this list or unsubscribe at any time.
If you have problems viewing this newsletter, please click the link at the very top of this page to see it in your browser.
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Campaigning  together
Covid-19 needn't stop you campaigning - and there are always green issues to campaign on. At the 2019 Great Green New Year Gathering, hosted by TTK and Kingston Environment Centre, campaigning came top of the suggested joint activities, and so, until there is nothing left to campaign about (we wish!) this section will remain at the top of every issue of this newsletter.
Take your pick from the issues highlighted below, have a look at the Kingston Council and Have Your Say items for more opportunities - and please take action.
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Don’t be one of the silent majority! People are very quick to resent change and complain to politicians, but much slower to thank or express approval or agreement with MPs or councillors who have done the right thing! This has a distorting effect as inboxes fill up with negative responses, while those who approve or don’t object to changes say nothing (see the items below on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods for an example!).
From The Climate Coalition (TCC)
TCC remind us that the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) is coming our way next year, hosted by the UK in Glasgow on 1 – 12 November (more on COP 26 in the Climate Crisis updates below). TCC is planning ahead, thinking how to explain the issues and engage the public in the build-up to this important conference. One idea is a Climate Festival of events around the country and a lobby of MPs next summer. TCC will be providing ideas for events big or small – watch this space and get ready to participate and organise in Kingston.
In the meantime, please add your name to the 1000s who've already signed TCC's Declaration.
Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
In August Caroline Lucas MP introduced a cross-party Climate and Ecological Emergency (private members) Bill into Parliament to update the 2008 Climate Change Act. It needs all our support to help get MPs behind it. Do join the campaign and learn more in this recording of a Zoom meeting with Caroline Lucas and Kate Raworth. North Kingston MP Sarah Olney, a supporter of the Bill, recently met with the organisers to talk about how she could help push the Bill forward. Learn more about the Bill here.
Ban wet-wipes 
The cost of removing "fat bergs", which include wet wipes, from sewers is now costing millions as they form so readily in our sewers. Banning these items when there are so many alternatives is long overdue, and a measure that will also help the environment. It might also have an educational effect of discouraging people fro m buying products that they then dispose of in an inappropriate way. Sign the petition here.
International Day of Action on Forest Biomass
Biofuelwatch thank everyone who supported the International Day of Action on Forest Biomass and ask us to sign the urgent petition calling on EU leaders to protect our forests, not burn them in power stations. If you missed the film Burned when TTK showed it in Kingston, you can watch the trailer here.
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Contacting politicians when you need to
Find contact details for your councillors, MP, MEPs, and LA members at WriteToThem.com Rather than repeating our advice on writing every month, we have saved it here on the TTK website.
Please tell us about other local green campaigns we should highlight in this section; air pollution; trees and local biodiversity; getting shops to close their doors in winter; supporting active travel, making cycling (and cycles) safer; divesting pensions etc from fossil fuels; recycling bins in public spaces; reducing waste plastic, other...? Please tell us what you’d like us to take up, and help others to join in by providing useful evidence and web-links.
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What's on at KEC
Live Webcast on Kingston Green Radio Xmas special
Tuesday 22 December, 8.00pm
Earth Online is a series of live online events and performances linked to the Kingston-based Green Futures Festivals group and the Green Futures Field at Glastonbury Festival. Using 'Streamyard' we link Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube to host the live on-line show and reach our audience on their favourite platform. Listen and check out previous episodes on You Tube or Facebook or Twitter or Green Futures Festival Radio or Kingston Green Radio.
Volunteers still wanted:
Social Media person - to put newsworthy items on Twitter, Facebook, etc, update content on our website (Wordpress) and contribute items to this newsletter. All can be done from home! About two hours per week.
Administration (Trainee) - to update records of members and volunteers, online calendar, prepare for meetings etc. All can be done online at the moment.
Gardeners - to look after plants, keeping the area around Kingston Environment Centre beautiful. Can be done with distancing. Training given.
Book-keeper - to keep up- to-date entries on our spreadsheet, File paperwork, Initially can be done from home, probably changing as the lockdown eases One or two hours a week, occasionally more.
If you are interested in any of these volunteer roles please let Jean or Pat know..
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Regular events at KEC and on-line
Socially distanced gardening on Saturdays
Usually from 1.00pm
Times can vary so check the Kingston Environment Centre Facebook page.
Stitch and Chat on Wednesday evenings
Returning to KEC but restricted to 6 people, with contact details taken in line with Covid-19 regulations. Email Pat if you would like to be included.
Listen or catch up with previous shows on Mixcloud..
See the KEC website calendar › for info and updates on events and activities at Kingston Environment Centre, 1 Kingston Road, New Malden, KT3 3PE.
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News
TTK in Chamber of Commerce Chessington EXPO Green Agenda session
TTK’s Alison joined in a round-table discussion on a range of borough green activities and initiatives and how businesses can play their part. You can watch the panel discussion here.
Would you like a Library of Things in Kingston?
A TTK representative was very impressed, at a recent webinar hosted by the Transition Network and Library of Things, by the sophisticated technology on offer from LoT. The founders have worked through various models of lending out useful but expensive things and arrived at a ready-to-go system, already installed in, for example, Crystal Palace. You can watch a recording of the discussion on setting up a LoT to see how it works. We have been talking (virtually, of course) to various people in Kingston who could make one happen here - if you’d like to borrow things or sponsor a LoT or suggest a suitable venue, do register your interest on the Library of Things website.
TTK Energy Group news
The Energy Group’s Damon updated us on his Radbot energy-saving radiator valve (read more about Radbot here): "At the end of September Radbot officially went into the SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) tables, which is how an assessor works out on their fingers and toes your home’s energy rating for its Energy Performance Certificate. Now that Radbot is in SAP you can, for example, have Radbots paid for as part of a Green Homes Grant. Radbot is also waiting for Ofgem to sign off to allow it into the ECO3 programme. This Energy Company Obligation is used to improve energy efficiency of homes for the fuel poor and others that are vulnerable, amounting to about 25% of the population. We (Vestemi.com) are in another fundraising round for Radbot right now, in case any of you have so much money that you can’t sleep at night!"
TTK continues…..
- to finalise its green community mapping project to connect Kingston people and projects; to encourage Transition Streets, and to work more closely with Kingston Council - for example, TTK's Alison will be attending some meetings of the Council's Covid Recovery Task Force. Watch this space for updates.
The TEDx Countdown - a postscript
TTK may host an event later in the year to bring people around Kingston together to explore the issues raised in the Tedx event that launched in October with the aim of accelerating action in cities and communities around the globe. Interested in co-creating our local TEDx-inspired event? Please do join us to support facilitation and creation of ideas ahead of and following this event - if you`re interested in getting involved, please email Alison.
Transition News
Transition: Bounce Forward – What If? What Next?
 All the talks from Transition Network’s What is? What Next? webinar series are now available to watch online for free at any time on the TN Youtube Channel.
The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £267,113 to Transition Network to provide support and strength, through a small grants scheme, for Transition responses to COVID-19. TTK has applied for some funding - if we are successful we will tell you all about it in future newsletters and will probably be asking our friends for advice and help.
Coming soon
Next Transition London & SE Hub Online Meet- Up
Tuesday 1 December 7.00 – 9.00pm. online, free
Always interesting and encouraging, the 4th and last open meeting of 2020 is not to be missed. Find out more and book your place.
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Regular events
 TTK management team meeting and Green Drinks
Last Tuesdays of the month, from 6.00pm, on-line
Management team meetings at 6.00pm, followed by virtual Green Drinks. Details will be posted on the TTK Facebook page.
We hope to see you at other TTK meet-ups or events as and when things return to normal - click an icon below to find updates on events and ongoing TTK projects, as well as new sources of funding, fascinating news snippets, encouraging ideas and discussions of Transition themes such as resilience, energy-efficiency, sustainable living… on our Facebook page. Do have a look and join in.
Find out more about the wider Transition Network.
Find more Transition activities and events in London and the S E on Facebook
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News
Two photos of Save the World Club's recent activities:
Top: A group of the volunteers after loading the vehicles and milk to be distributed across the borough before midnight.
Below: So many leeks from Aldi that they had to be packed into a volunteer’s car!
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The latest news is that, largely thanks to your support, we have received yet another substantial donation which is expressly given for us to buy a used refrigerated van. We have selected one and it is due for delivery soon so thanks to you all. We will publish info about this van and the donation soon.
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We are aiming to end our 2020 campaign on December 31st and to use the accumulated funds to purchase a small van to add to our mini-fleet, expressly to collect and distribute food when our bigger vans are not available or economical. So one last GoFundMe push is required to give us enough funding to buy the best possible small used van. To help we are in the process of adding a DONATE button to our website to make transactions easier for donors.
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What's on at The Circulatory 
Save the World Club Christmas Grotto
Saturday 12 December, 1.00 – 4.00pm
A socially distanced Christmas grotto (regulations allowing) with admission by donation (can be anything).
 TTK's Stitch in Time is still waiting for Covid-19 restrictions to be relaxed,.
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Regular events
 If you’d like visit the Circulatory or borrow Stitch in Time sewing resources, please contact Des to make an appointment to ensure that physical spacing is maintained, and bring hand sanitiser to use before and after using any kit.
The Circulatory, Unit 5, Chiltern Way, (at the bottom of Chiltern Drive), adjacent to Berrylands Railway Station
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KBN exists to highlight and promote local conservation work in Kingston.
Coming up
The next KBN dates are 20th January 2021 on Butterflies, and 14th April 2021 on Urban Rewilding.
News
Citizen Zoo updates
Citizen Zoo’s Water Vole Crowdfunder was a success, raising the money needed to purchase the water voles that will be released into the Hogsmill. And Citizen Zoo have recruited an Urban Rewilding Officer (the first of its kind), to start work in Jan 2021.
Sign up to KBN newsletter or click on an icon below for news of more conservation activities around Kingston - get involved or set up a project of your own.
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Regular events
Every Wednesday is Wildlife Wednesday on the RBK social media feeds, with a small factoid about local wildlife recently on those winter visitors, redwings.
Every Monday there’s a Reading Nature session with the Library Service on their social media - a short video encouraging people to go outside and explore green spaces to find wildlife
See the website or Facebook page for other KBN activities
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A network of local environmental organisations covering a wide range of blue and green issues in Kingston
News
KEF and the RBK Communities Covid-19 Recovery Task Force
KEF is now attending meetings of the Kingston Council Communities Covid-19 Recovery Task force and its interesting and diverse working groups, which seem open to including and considering environmental sustainability across the board. Current working groups are on Poverty, Volunteering, and Mental Health and Wellbeing – and participating in these seems preferable to setting up a separate Sustainability working group which could lead to being seen as a minority interest and side-lined. If any KEF member-groups would like to deputise and help to remind other Task Force members of the need for environmental sustainability and climate resilience, and Kingston’s Climate Emergency Declaration... please get in touch. Thank you to TTK Chair Alison for stepping up to represent the green angle in the Mental Health and Wellbeing working group.
One useful outcome from the Volunteering working group may be better coordination/signposting/mapping of volunteer opportunities, formal and informal, something that local environmental groups may well want to participate in – updates will appear on the KEF Facebook page and website.
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Local green organisations, please make sure you are still members of the KEF website and that someone interested will pick up our messages, so that you can contribute and be consulted as and when relevant. New organisations and/or new group representatives are welcome to join too, by clicking the Join Website button at the top of the KEF Home page. And have a look at the website and Facebook page occasionally - there may be a question or issue for you to take up.
Individuals, there is almost certain to be an organisation or person in the group who can answer your eco-questions or take up local environmental issues or send you in the right direction, so do use the Facebook page to share these. If KEF (or one of the organisations that feature in this newsletter, many of which are KEF members) can’t help, we almost certainly know someone who can. And you don't need to join KEF’s website to access its useful information and resources.
If you’d like to write something on a green theme that is too long for this newsletter or too broad for more specialist green groups, please send it to us for possible publication in KEF’s blog.
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News
Environment Trust and South West London Environment Network (SWLEN) have now merged to become Habitats & Heritage with a wonderful new website. Habitats & Heritage acts for the natural and historic environment in south and west London. In a time where the health of our environment and each other has never been more important, and never more interlinked, we invite readers to support our work by signing up to join the new Habitats & Heritage Supporter Scheme today for just £10 a year.
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Click on the website icon below for news and information about Green Hubs, the Green Infrastructure Project, and to sign up for our newsletter to hear all the news, opportunities and events from the Habitats & Heritage community.
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 Berrylands Nature Reserve
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News
Read our blog: after every event or when there is some exciting news about our nature reserve or local green space, we try to write a quick blog post to let everyone know. We love feedback and ideas so please do keep in contact by emailing us or via social media.
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Regular events
See website and Facebook page.
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Local sowing and growing
News
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Hogsmill Community Garden
 See updates and guidelines on (re-)opening on our Facebook page.
On Swan Path, Vineyard Close
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Canbury Community Garden
It’s been relatively quiet in the community garden, though when the weather permits there is tidying up,  compost turning and spreading to do, and our recently planted broad beans are sprouting, a welcome hopeful sign. For the moment the lead gardeners, with the occasional permitted helper, are keeping the garden ticking over, and the Chicken Collective are keeping the hens happy.
Between Canbury Gardens, Kingston Riverside [tennis] Club and Kings’ Passage
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Kingston Permaculture Reserve/ Edible Forest Garden
Kingston Edible Forest meets most Sundays, and on a weekday evening when there's light, to cultivate a food forest planted for the long term with perennial edible flowers, veg and fruit, details on out website. Contact us to check when we are there and for us to plan numbers while Covid rules are in place.
Knollmead Allotments, Tolworth KT5 9QP
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News
It’s official: allotments are good for you
– and for your mental health. Read all about it in The Guardian.
Covid-19: What does it mean for growers?
Many community gardeners will be wondering what restrictions mean for gardens, allotments and growing activities. The info on Sustain’s Covid-19 webpage is there to help keep gardens open safely and confidently.
Any gardeners got room for some rescue chickens?
Eastleigh & Southampton Fresh Start For Hens URGENT rehome on 5th December. Eastleigh will be helping to rehome 1800 barn hens - our van is booked and will take as many as we have bookings for! Please visit our website and click on Eastleigh.
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What's on
London Friends of Greenspaces Network meeting
Monday 7 December, 6.00pm - 8.00pm, via Zoom
Always a useful source of info for Friends groups and Friends Forums from across London - see LFGN's Facebook page and website.
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Regular community gardening sessions
Contact gardens via Facebook pages for times or to make an appointment.to help. It can be difficult to keep regular sessions going with Covid rules changing so frequently and organisers taking holiday breaks, so do check websites before turning up.
Useful resources
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XR Kingston 
News
News from global Extinction Rebellion here. Read the latest London XR news and sign up for the e-newsletter here.
Systems Realignment
XR invites everyone to help them answer the question: How can we organise ourselves to make the biggest difference we can in this country? Join in their new XR project, the Systems Realignment, through a new ‘story-catching’ tool called SenseMaker - learn more here and get involved.
Coming soon
For XR Kingston meetings, actions, film shows coming up check Events on the Facebook page.
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Kingston Council news
Plans for new Kingston district heating network
Kingston Council is working with borough-based organisations to establish a new system to decarbonise heat supplies to homes and businesses. Heating buildings by burning natural gas is recognised as a major source of carbon dioxide emissions and is something the Council is keen to tackle.
Wildlife-friendly green spaces coming to Kingston
 Almost 400 residents had their say on how they would like to see the borough’s open spaces managed in the future with overwhelming support for wildlife friendly adjustments. So next year the Council will be piloting wildflower roadside verges, relaxing mowing regimes in parks, planting biobeds to increase urban pollinators, supporting the establishment of new community orchards and piloting traditional grassland grazing... Thank you to everyone who responded to this consultation and helped to tip the balance in favour of a bit of wildness. Read more about it here and here.
Kingston’s Biodiversity Action Plan will be launched next year too.
Council efforts to tackle climate crisis 'hampered by UK government'
Swingeing cuts and lack of support hinder meaningful action, says a Green councillor in The Guardian.
Kingston’s Air Quality Action Plan 
Kingston’s Air Quality Action Plan commits the Council to improving air quality across the borough working with residents, communities, businesses and partners. The plan was shaped by Kingston residents following Kingston’s Citizens’ Assembly on Air Quality last year which brought together 38 randomly selected people from the borough to develop recommendations on how to improve our air quality. This was the first ever citizens’ assembly in the UK to focus on air quality. More information about the event can be found on the Council website, footage can be watched on Youtube, and you can read a full report here.
The Air Quality Action Plan includes removing pollutants from school boundaries, planning and enforcement, greener transport and infrastructure, awareness raising, each with a number of actions which will reduce air pollution and contribute to a cleaner, greener, healthier Kingston for everyone. You can read the Air Quality Action Plan and give your feedback at kingstonletstalk.co.uk/aqap until 17 January 2021.
Ever wondered who doesn’t want cleaner air?
Some answers here.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
Together with other London boroughs, Kingston is trialling the low traffic street schemes which aim to improve air quality by providing the infrastructure to support walking and cycling. Please take part in the consultation, and tell the Council what you think about the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods being trialled in several areas around the borough over the next 6 months For more info and to comment visit the Council website.
 The Councillor Ward Funding Scheme, aimed at providing local Councillors with the ability to support the award of flexible, small and timely funds for local initiatives within their ward, is open for applications. If you are interested in applying for Councillor Ward Funding then you should contact your ward councillors before the end of December.. You can find your local councillors here.
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Nature notes
Healing Countryside
BBC TV’s Countryfile dedicated an episode last month to the healing powers of the great outdoors. Catch it on BBC i-player.
Tree for Cities
"Trees benefit everyone by cleaning our air, improving mental health and wellbeing, masking noise, absorbing greenhouse gases, providing shade and protection against the ‘urban heat island effect’, providing a habitat for wildlife, and mitigating flood risk. They are key in the fight against the climate crisis, and with more and more people living in cities, we need them to make our urban spaces cleaner, healthier, and greener places to live," say Trees for Cities. .Help build a community of tree-planters and and inspire the next generation to plant and protect urban green spaces. Find out how you can get involved with #GenerationTree  and Trees for Cities Big Give appeal.
Useful apps for nature-lovers
- The Seek app uses your smart phone to identify the plants and animals all around us, and can make the daily walk much more interesting.
- BirdNET can identify 984 of the most common bird species of North America and Europe. from song recorded on your phone.
- UK Bird Sounds
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Have your say -
 On the Royal Parks Movement Strategy
Consultation is taking place from November to December 2020. This includes seeking feedback for a trial scheme in Richmond Park that restricts all through-traffic between Broomfield Hill Car Park and Robin Hood Car Park and closes the vehicle link between Sheen Gate and Sheen Cross. Additionally, on weekends and public holidays all cut-through traffic between Roehampton, Sheen and Richmond Gates is restricted . Learn more about the proposals for Richmond Park and provide feedback here.
If you missed the meeting last month with Director of Parks, Tom Jarvis, about The Royal Parks' plans for their Movement Strategy and car parking charging in Richmond Park you can watch the recording here.
Learn more about proposals for the other Royal Parks.
On Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
if you appreciated the lack of traffic, safer streets, cleaner air and quiet during lock-down, care about the environment, and/or you cycle or walk or scoot...you might like to support the Council's Low Traffic Neighbourhoods being trialled in several areas around the borough over the next 6 months For more info and to comment visit the Council website. For some useful arguments see:
On Seething Wells - 1
Kingston Council is using its planning powers to protect Seething Wells Filter Beds in Surbiton from potential harm to local biodiversity. The site, which is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), represents a unique habitat within the borough, of particular importance to wintering wildfowl and bat populations. A mechanism called an Article 4 Direction has been introduced which temporarily removes the ability to erect fencing, gates and other means of enclosure on the site without planning permission. The Council must decide within six months whether to make the Article 4 Direction permanent, and a public consultation on this ends at 5.00pm on Friday 18th December. The consultation documents are available here – you can send an email or fill in a fairly simple form.
On Seething Wells - 2
Seething Wells Action Group wants to hear your thoughts on the site and how it should be used if it became available. Find out more about the site and find the survey on the SWAG Facebook page.
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Waste matters
What happens to Kingston’s waste?
Landfill tax and other problems mean that we can’t just bury our rubbish any more, incineration is controversial, and plastic waste, deservedly, gets a very bad press... So what to do? Ideally we’d produce much less waste but that doesn’t seem to be happening (in fact there’s probably been even more during the pandemic), so what happens to our many tonnes of recycling and rubbish after it’s been collected? Read here what Kingston Council and the South London Waste Partnership tell us about how and what to recycle, what happens to our plastic waste, how the Beddington Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) works to produce heat and energy, how the emissions from ERFs compare with, for example, emissions from bonfires and fireworks, wood-burning stoves, cars and other sources of pollution – and much more about rubbish, with links for you to delve further. And of course there are always Freegle, Freecycle and The Circulatory doing a brilliant job of keeping useful stuff out of the waste stream.
Increase in burning of plastic 'driving up emissions from waste disposal'
Expansion of energy-from-waste incineration could stop the UK hitting its net zero carbon target, campaigners warn in The Guardian
And for those hard-to-recycle hard plastics...
SunrayRecycle, at Sunray Community Hall, next to Knollmead Allotments, collect plastics that are not usually recyclable for TerraCycle, a recycling company that is able to recycle these hard plastics. And the newly reopened Refill Larder on Teddington High Street, which helps to reduce plastic packaging, also collects plastics such as toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and packaging in store for recycling via TerraCycle. Both schemes earn pennies to plough back into the community.
Surfers Against Sewage are about much more than surfing and sewage – they are “galvanising communities and inspiring people to protect our beautiful coastlines” and say that “Plastic pollution is the ‘new sewage’. Tackling it is our number one priority.” Find out more about their beach clean-ups and campaigns.
Parliamentary committee calls for Right to Repair
Over a year after a parliamentary committee inquiry started, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee released its new report on electronic waste on the eve of “Black Friday” and following a year in which the UK fell way short of its e-waste collection targets. Read more on the Restart Project website.
 Black mark to the UK
The US and UK produce more plastic waste per person than other major countries, according to new research. Read more in The Guardian.
Fast fashion and plastics
Watch the "Earth Convention" discussion on our wasteful consumption patterns and the supply chains that feed them, with contributions from Dieter Helm, Lucy Siegle, Steve Evans and Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled film about the underside of our production and consumption patterns, which exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and urges us to create a more sustainable and just world. Probably familiar to Transitioners, but worth watching here.
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Energy updates
North Kensington Community Energy is fundraising to install solar panels on schools and community buildings to fight climate change and fund community activities. Find out more on their website.
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Climate crisis updates
The pandemic shows the way?
Despite all the misery, Covid-19 has shown that, in an emergency, rapid change is possible – and perhaps some of the benefits of changes to our work and travel habits will last if society takes the climate emergency as seriously as it has taken the pandemic. For example, do we really need HS2 and all those new roads?
Choose Life!
The Climate Coalition has joined with Project Everyone to promote a call to action for their climate campaign. Their short film ‘Choose Life’ is the opening monologue from Trainspotting, cleverly rewritten as a call for climate action - watch it here. You can add your name to TCC’s Declaration telling politicians that we want a cleaner, greener, fairer future at the heart of plans to rebuild a strong economy.
See The Climate Coalition’s 10 Point Plan for a green recovery from the pandemic that would inspire the world to follow, put together by the leading UK NGOs working on climate change and development, ahead of the crucial COP 26 climate summit that the UK will be hosting next year.
The climate emergency: What next for the Paris Agreement?
A November Guardian Live online event is now available to view on demand here.
Want to take action on climate change, but don’t know where to start? Possible has divided their campaigns across five key areas where we can all take action to tackle the climate crisis. Click the buttons on Possible’s website to find out what you can do right now to help.
"Net zero is relatively low-cost across the economy. But that rests on action now. You can’t sit on your hands and imagine it’s just going to get cheaper by magic," says Chris Stark, head of the government's independent climate advisers, in The Guardian.
The Climate & Ecological Emergency: Taking Action Together one-day conference
This was a huge event in November, organised by Climate Emergency UK for councillors, council officers and climate activists to discuss what can and should follow Cimate Emergency Declarations. If you would like to view recordings of the conference, please register here so that you will hear about Climate Emergency UK news and workshops, and the next conference.
The disppointing difference between awareness and action
People are planning to drive more in future than they did before the coronavirus pandemic, a survey suggests, even though the overwhelming majority accept human responsibility for the climate crisis. Read more in The Guardian
What is COP26, How does it work, Why is it important?
A short explanatory video on YouTube
See also Climate Outreach’s resource: How to have a climate change conversation – Talking climate
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For schools and young people
If you are a teacher or parent or school student, you might be interested in some of these schemes:
Eco-Schools develops pupils’ skills, raises environmental awareness, improves the school environment and creates financial savings for schools as well as a whole host of other benefits. Find out more.
Green Schools Project aims to enable young people to fulfil their potential by providing resources and support to schools to engage them in environmental projects, building their skills and aspirations while encouraging them, their community and wider society to live in a more sustainable way. Find out more.
TES Sustainable Schools awards celebrate the achievements of schools that are committed to empowering a new generation of environmental citizens and green ambassadors. Could your school win an award next year? Fnd out more.
A Kingston Climate Emergency Youth Survey has been created by the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council in partnership with Achieving for Children and Kingston Council, to find out how important 11-19-year-olds think climate change is, the actions they are taking, and what else young people, their families, or their schools, could do to tackle it. Open until Friday 22nd January 2021 – complete the survey here.
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Food, glorious food...
The Good Food Co-op
A Kingston not-for-profit enterprise championing local, spray-free, ethically sourced, seasonal, healthy food for all. Find out more and order a veg or fruit box.
How can changing your food shop help biodiversity?
The same foods are repeatedly blamed for a decline in biodiversity, but should you remove them from your shopping basket altogether? And if so, is that really enough to solve the problem? Read about it on BBC Food.
The climate crisis and food
The UK is increasingly reliant on fruit and vegetables imported from countries most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, which could lead to supply problems, experts say. Read more in The Guardian.
Will a smaller family Christmas mean a lot of food waste?
We hope not – shop carefully, use your freezer, and be creative with the inevitable leftovers. You don’t have to have a huge turkey, but it you do, the BBC offers some useful recipes for surplus turkey and tips on storage.
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Reviews
We read the reviews so you don’t have to... (We haven’t read or watched everything in this section, but we think they all sound interesting.)
Watch
The "Earth Convention" online talks
Watch a series of online Zoom talks on climate change, hosted by Rathbones and 5 x 15 and featuring panels of journalists, professors, activists, economists and policy advisers, chaired by Rosie Boycott, discussing Time .for a reset?, Energy and finance, and Consumers: fast fashion, manufacturing and plastics.
Listen
Making the world better podcast: How eating insects could save the world - with Dr Tilly Collins
Play
Bird Bingo
64 species of birds from around the world to mark off on your card and bingo! Includes some information and a few quirky traits for all of the birds featured.
Read
Building a Green Stimulus for Covid-19
A nef report setting out a framework for establishing a a greener, fairer future in response to Covid-19. Read it here.
Net  Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change by Dieter Helm
‘Dieter Helm is one of Britain's foremost experts on energy economics and he has written a terrific book on the next agenda item once the Covid emergency has passed. It is also an angry book … A fine overview of our climate policy failures and the options for doing better.’ Sunday Independent
Turning the Tide on Plastic: How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again by Lucy Siegle
An accessible, practical and ultimately inspiring book that not only serves as a much-needed call to arms to end the plastic pandemic, but gives useful tools on how to make meaningful change in our everyday lives and advice on how to demand long-lasting action. You can follow Lucy Siegle on Twitter @lucy siegle and Instagram @theseagull
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Regular updates on all things environmental
– and most of them will send environmental news direct to your inbox:
The Independent environment news
The Guardian environment news
The BBC environment news
The Ecologist, currently celebrating its 50th year; its impressive archive includes the landmark A Blueprint for Survival (1972) outlining the need for a serious economic and environmental overhaul
Fix the Planet - New Scientist’s monthly dose of climate optimism
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More things we like this month 
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What else is happening soon?
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Day conference: How to Change the World
Friday, 4 December, 12.00 pm – 7.00 pm, £75
An international digital conference bringing together an impressive line-up of inspirational individuals and organisations forging a better future for our planet. From technology to architecture, social innovation to green energy, you’ll meet the men and women making the world of tomorrow. Find out more and book.
Free online community-building training
Two back-to-back daytime sessions or four evening sessions split over two weeks in December or January, on-line
An opportunity for anyone passionate about creating positive change in their communities, funded by the Mayor of London. It will help participants to build their knowledge and skills on what really works to bring communities together and increase cohesion. New training dates for members of voluntary and community groups from London offer a final chance for community members to take part. Find out more and register here.
 Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time
4th Jan - 28 Feb 2021
Sterling College's interactive, communal online course, led by TTK co-founder Shaun Chamberlin, with guests last time including Rob Hopkins and Vandana Shiva. The first run had 250 participants - this will be limited to 100. Details here and Shaun's blog about the course here.
Give Earth a Rest Day
Saturday 5 June 2021
A new anti-waste campaign has started in Kingston and could go global if everyone helped. Find out more here.
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