Education and engagement are vital in tackling climate change. By providing knowledge and awareness about the environment, we empower individuals to make informed decisions and take meaningful action. Engaging people in the climate challenge fosters a sense of responsibility and collective effort, driving positive change for a sustainable future.
As we work to develop next year’s Assembly, focussing on Young People and Education, we’ve been learning from some wonderful exemplar projects. This month, a group from Sustainable South Hams visited the Harbour House Gallery in Kingsbridge to view the amazing exhibition by their young curators and to find out more about co-creating with young people from Dr Beth Richards, who headed up the project.
Building on June’s conversation around Scaling Earth Resources, the November Change Makers’ Meeting introduced a series of community composting projects currently in development by Sustainable South Hams, in partnership with Devon Community Composting Network and South Hams District Council.
Our new Change Makers Gatherings got off to a strong start with an online session discussing South Hams District Council’s new draft Corporate Strategy for Climate & Nature.
Three personal carbon footprint calculators free of charge to help people understand their own carbon footprint and suggest the most effective ways to reduce it; Carbon Ambassadors Live online course: 8 sessions over 8 weeks (this has run three times). A comprehensive guide to carbon footprinting, with guest speakers; Carbon Savers bite-sized course: New course launching in October - 15 minute video sessions with accompanying materials, run once a month for ten months.
We have declared a climate & environmental emergency, we voted that we would consider the climate & environment in every decision and action, we have embedded that within our formal process and hire agreements, etc, we created an ongoing phased Habitat Plan to improve biodiversity on land we own or manage, and we are working on a wider Climate & Environment Plan.
EV charging points, roof top solar, carbon off setting, community art, tree planting, promoting green businesses.
Moor Imagination Collective intend to develop a community hub in Buckfastleigh
ReUsing the Big Red Telephone Box as lending library for climate & nature books
Devon Living Churchyards Project encourages churches to support wildlife