Bucks climate ambassadors take action in November 2021 during COP26
 
The Bucks Climate ambassadors joined the Global Day of Action march in Oxford on 6 November 2021.  On this middle Saturday of the COP26 conference there were mass demonstrations and protests in Glasgow and around the world asking political leaders to make the changes needed to save the planet.  We took with us the Bucks climate scarf and created posters calling for the protection of women and girls from the effect of climate change as set out in the The Whole Story campaign.
 
On the second Saturday 13 November we set up a stall at the Amersham Town Council’s Climate Action Day. Our display showcased the 4 recent climate related NFWI campaigns; Microplastics, SOS Bees, Show the Love and The Whole Story.
 
Our celebrity scarecrow Greta (see blog below) did a fantastic job to draw attention to the displays and encourage local residents to consider how they might reduce their own carbon footprints and protect the planet.  We met local town councillors and the newly elected MP who were very interested to hear about the Wi’s active campaigning.
 
COP26 What next? The NFWI response

At Glasgow COP26 the pace of climate action increased and the gap between where we are and a safer world is beginning to close. but it wasn’t the complete solution. The reason that progress has happened in the UK is because of pressure from WI members, other campaigners and campaigning organisations and the general public to push for a better, greener world.

Over the next few months, the WI will be keeping up the momentum on climate change campaigning work and the WI’s own environmental campaigns.  Join us for February’s Show the Love 2022. to make and share green hearts, to send a clear message to people in power that we all care about climate, nature and people.  And save the date for the Great Big Green Week from 24 September to 2 October 2022,
 
 

​Greta was delighted to meet the other celebrities including Michael Jackson, Boris Johnson and Dylan the dog, Florence Nightingale (twins), Dolly Parton, Charlie Dimmock, Prue Leith and even Her Majesty the Queen.  She did not mind at all that she was not chosen as the winner in her category. The knitted Prue Leith was a worthy winner.

​Nearby there were other interesting figures who really showed what the WI collective imagination, skills and inventiveness can achieve to promote the environment and recycling.   Greta was most impressed with Bill (not Ben) the flowerpot man, the Butterfly Lady, and Second Hand Rose.

 #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

 Each year we have National Tree Week  (28 November – 6 December).  National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season, the best time to plant young trees. There is a very direct link between trees and carbon capture as trees absorb carbon dioxide to grow and increasing tree cover worldwide will help to fight climate change. I spent an afternoon browsing the internet and found all sorts of interesting information.
 
I spent quite a time on The Tree Council website
https://treecouncil.org.uk/
where I found news items and information about tree planting schemes, projects to record ancient trees, and even a video of how to make chocolate leaf decorations.
 
On the Woodland Trust website
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
I found information which said that a young wood with mixed native species can lock up 400+ tonnes carbon per hectare in trees, roots and soil and trees contribute much additional value in mitigating the effects of a changing climate. They can help to prevent flooding, moderate the temperature of the urban environment,  help to reduce air pollution and maintain soil quality. I found information on how to plant a tree, an A-Z of British Trees, a link to Osprey cam and you can even buy a tree from their shop.
The Woodland Trust has created a document setting out how the UK can tackle its climate and nature crises to expand tree cover and protect and restore woodland. Read our Emergency Tree Plan
The Government’s £640m Nature for Climate fund will help deliver the English part of its tree planting commitment, along with peatland restoration and nature recovery.
 
Via the Woodland Trust website as part of its THE BIG CLIMATE FIGHTBACK lobby activity I sent a message to the Rt Hon Mr George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Member responsible for the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) asking that in addition to accelerating tree planting the management of existing trees and woodlands should be improved.  I pointed out that I am a member of the Womens Institute and a Climate Change Ambassador for my county Federation and that achieving net zero emissions as soon as possible is important to me and to many Bucks WI members.  I said that I was lucky to live in Milton Keynes which has planned a vast green infrastructure and has a tree planting policy and that all parts of the country should benefit from more trees being planted.
 
I also found research information about how walking in woodland can increase physical health, enhance mental wellbeing and positive feelings. A specific term called ‘forest bathing’ describes a Japanese practice known as shinrin yoku which is intended to promote relaxation, de-stress and boost health. The method is a very simple one, of being calm and quiet amongst trees, observing nature and breathing deeply.
See https://www.forestryengland.uk/blog/forest-bathing
I then got distracted by the link to tree related blogs including how to make a holy wreath and natural decorations for Christmas.
Earlier in the year in June Cath and I participated in a zoom event organised by the Wales Federation with the theme of Trees, Our Environment, Health and Wellbeing and these linked to their current campaigns for tree planting and mental health.  The first speaker talked about a local group which supported the recovery of those suffering from mental health issues by engaging in outdoor environmental tasks and gardening. The second speaker was a forester, Tom Jenkins Head of Forest Research in Wales who spoke about how trees were essential for the future of Wales in both environmental and economic terms. In his view the more trees and woodland the better but they should be the right trees in the right places. He stressed the importance of increasing public awareness and for the government to formulate an appropriate tree planting policy to meet climate targets.
 
On 19th July 2020 Cath completed a 10km sponsored run for the International Association of Human Values (IAHV) Climate Action Now-Tree Planting project. This initiative promotes tree plantations and, education of teachers and children on the effect of climate change across the globe and has so far planted 240,000 trees and thereby helped to reduce Co2 emissions. International Association For Human Values  Well done Cath, her friend and the two dogs Harley and Ziggy!
 
 
Yvonne Alton
December 2020