2021 - the year of Climate Change commitment?

 #SHOW THE LOVE CAMPAIGN 2021
 
From your two BFWI Climate Ambassadors Yvonne Alton and Cath Campbell:
 
We have been delighted to discover how many WI members in Bucks did their best to #Showthelove in February 2021 despite us being in lockdown.  Members of Yvonne’s own WI in Bow Brickhill created window displays in their homes, and Cath Campbell decorated her front window in Princes Risborough with crocheted green hearts. These had previously been used for decorating the Climate Ambassador information table at events.  In the March 2021 Bucks News the fabulous display created by Long Marston and Puttenham WI was featured.  They extended the #Showthelove theme to cover the environment in all its aspects by creating (in a socially distanced way) 4 window displays in their village hall.  The window themes were ‘Nature’s Perfect World’, ‘The Industrial Landscape’, ‘Dereliction’ and ‘All things reused and recycled’. These windows generated a lot of interest about climate and the environment.
 
The main thing which is concerning the Climate Coalition organisation at the moment is how to concentrate the minds of Government and national leaders on to the declared climate targets ahead of the COP26 meeting this autumn (COP = Conference of the Parties and it is being hosted by the UK). There is a risk that this meeting will have to be virtual which will take away some of the impact of in person meetings but even so it will be vital to keep up the pressure for change.
 
The Climate Coalition have created a declaration for individuals and organisations to sign which asks the Prime Minister to take the lead to ‘a healthier, greener, fairer future’.  It asks that the UK :
 

• Unleash a clean energy revolution that boosts jobs across the UK, making our transport, power and housing fit for the future
• Protect, restore and expand our green and wild spaces; allowing nature to thrive, taking carbon from the air and boosting the nation’s health
• Leave no one behind by increasing support to those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change at home and abroad

The link below will take you to the webpage where you can find out more and sign the declaration.
https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/thetimeisnow
 
We as Climate Ambassadors have publicised this declaration to individual Bucks WIs when we have been visiting for our climate talks.  The more signatures the stronger our voice.
 
During March as Climate Ambassadors Cath and I were involved in meetings of the Buckinghamshire Climate Action Alliance (BCAA).  This group is encouraging candidates in the forthcoming Bucks Council elections to commit to active climate action locally so that Buckinghamshire Council reaches its declared carbon net zero target much sooner than 2050. 
 
If you are concerned about climate change you can ask your own local candidate about their position.  Invite them to sign a pledge which the BCAA have devised for candidates to demonstrate their commitment to recognising that there is a climate emergency and a need for Buckinghamshire to take urgent action to become a net zero carbon emitter as soon as possible. The pledge asks elected candidates to promise to work together with other councillors to address the climate emergency and create an environment in Buckinghamshire that allows people, businesses and nature to thrive.
https://bucksclimateactionalliance.org/climate-action-pledge
 
A virtual Climate Hustings took place on 19 April where representatives of political parties and independent candidates were available to respond to public questions about climate issues in Buckinghamshire.
 
Did you see the Science & Society Committee’s talks in March?  All three presenters were very interesting.  There were links between the theme of each talk around aspects of climate and biodiversity.  Prof Chris Jackson spoke about volcanoes and their products and how collecting data creates images and models which help eruption prediction. Volcanoes cause earthquakes, tidal waves and emit gases and debris which can affect the climate.  Jane Tubb spoke about how fossil leaves can tell us about past climates.  The talk by Joanna de Montgross looked forward into ‘the age of clean energy’.  She spoke about sources of renewable energy and the growth of renewable energy schemes.
 
Yvonne responded on behalf of Bucks Federation to a Bucks Council consultation on biodiversity and planning applications.  Developers will in future need to calculate the biodiversity on a site prior to design and development to ensure there is greater diversity on site once development is completed. There is an acknowledged link between biodiversity and climate; see for example the quote from the UK Government Advisory body Natural England in its report entitled Climate change, Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions
https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2020/06/22/climate-change-biodiversity-and-nature-based-solutions/
 
Climate change is a threat to the species and wild places we love, but if we look after nature better, we can also reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and build the resilience of people and nature.
 
It seemed important for the WI in Bucks to contribute to this consultation and to support the protection of biodiversity in the natural environment locally.
 
Nearly 10 years ago the UK government published a Biodiversity Strategy 2020
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69446/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020-111111.pdf
 
in response to UN biodiversity targets intended to halt long term decline in global species caused by human activity; in particular the loss of habitat and the effects of climate change. However many of these targets are still to be achieved and in response nationally the Wildlife Trusts are calling for increased activity to protect our landscape for nature’s recovery by 2030.  https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30-30-30
 
Bucks WI members will no doubt continue to be actively involved in future local environmental projects.
 
Yvonne Alton & Cath Campbell
April 2021