         
Happy New Year to you all. I hope you've had a well earned rest, and have begun the New Year well. There's plenty going on: awards galore, info about flood resilience measures, energy efficiency and heaps of events coming up, including the Green New Deal talk at the end of the month. As always, do keep me in touch with your news and views, and I look forward to working with many of you this year.
1. In the news1.1 Lets talk about the weather.. Despite the recent cold snap, according to climate scientists at the Met Office and the University of East Anglia the global temperature is forecast to be more than 0.4 °C above the long-term average. This would make 2009 warmer than the year just gone and the warmest since 2005. Further info 1.2 George Monbiot confronts the top decision makers who shape the global environment - videos online a 1.3 Flooding - DEFRA launches £5m property-level protection grant scheme On 17th December, Secretary of State Hilary Benn announces the launch of a £5m property-level flood protection grant scheme that will help properties in areas with a high risk of flooding that do not benefit from community-level defences. This scheme builds upon recommendation 12 of the Pitt Review and the recent consultation on policy options for promoting property-level flood protection and resilience. Properties in areas that are awarded funding will be provided with free home flood surveys and a grant towards the cost of the flood protection measures that are identified in those surveys. Individual applications must come through Local Authorities - see the website for more info. Also check the http://www.climatex.org/ website links section - new section on Floods added, which you can see here: http://climatex.org/links/category/floods/ 2. Those New Years resolutions....get skilled up!2.1 Low-impact Living Initiative (LILI) is celebrating it's amazing 2009 course program - by far the largest selection of eco courses in the country. For the month of January, we are giving you the chance to book a place on any 2009 residential course at Redfield, Bucks, and get another for half price. See the selection here, including ‘how to make biodiesel', ‘straw bale building', ‘building a pedal powered generator' and many more. 2.2 How about getting out and about, learning hedge laying, attending a Green Gym? Info about heaps of events and volunteering opportunities in Oxfordshire from the very excellent ONCF newsletter. To subscribe send an email to cynth@oncf.org.uk or check their website: http://www.oncf.org.uk/ Showersmart saves on your heating bills and water bills (if you are Suitable for all non-electric showers - For mains-fed showers (where hot water comes from a combi-boiler or similar), this saves both water and the associated energy with heating hot water.
** 3. COMMUNITIESSee the report from the Joining the Dots events online.
3.1 Transition Thame: Only a week into the year and already a meeting missed! Transition Thame had a meeting on Sunday 10th - if you'd like to find out more and live in the area, get in touch with Dave: dakeyd10@googlemail.com / 01844 296174 3.2 North Leigh Project report For two years from June 2006 to June 2008 volunteers submitted quarterly gas and electricity meter readings. The first year provided a baseline and in the second year residents were asked to pull out all the stops to improve their energy efficiency. The analysis showed that families who provided meter readings over the two years achieved savings of 8% of electricity during the second year. The use of gas is different because it is mainly used for heating but when the effects of different winters were taken into account a saving of 7% had been achieved. More info: http://www.challenge-northleigh.co.uk/
3.3 Creating a Transition Oxford Plan 'Transition Oxford' wants to spend 2009 developing a vision of how Oxford might be in the future, and identify now, the necessary steps for achieving an attractive, sustainable and resilient City. We want to provide a means of integrating and disseminating the ideas and activities that many people in Oxford are engaged with, in a way that motivates and excites others.
For further info, get in touch with the TOP coordinating group via transitionoxford@gmail.com.
Roll out the Green carpets - it's awards season. And you thought Hollywood got all the fun : )3.4 Communities and Local Government Minister Iain Wright MP has officially launched the Government's national awards for sustainable communities in mid December. There are nine categories and the deadline for entries is 11th February 2009. Click here for more information The Homes and Communities Academy Awards celebrate successful developments and community-based projects in the public, private and third sectors. They promote organisations, partnerships and individuals helping to transform our cities, towns, villages and neighbourhoods. Further info: http://www.hcaacademy.co.uk/awards (From the Energy Savings Trust CAFÉ news list - subscribe at café@est.org.uk) 3.5 The Future Friendly Awards - celebrates local heroes that take positive action to help make a difference and promote sustainable living. Individuals or groups can enter the awards and you can nominate yourself or others, the overall prize is a £20,000 bursary. http://www.futurefriendly.co.uk/ (From the Energy Savings Trust CAFÉ newlist - subscribe at café@est.org.uk ). 3.6 Oxfordshire Business Awards have a sustainable business award, an ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD FOR PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION, and a Charity and Community Award. .Entry to the awards is free and simple with entries for the 2009 awards having to be completed by the 27th February. See the website for further info: http://www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk/2009/catagory.asp?OBAwpDOS=u05Ct22srn
4. New website: International Climate Challenge Website launchedHow young people prepare and adapt is going to be vital. As tomorrow's leaders, the response of young people will determine the very basis of human society. InterClimate Network, a not-for-profit company, has launched the International Climate Challenge (ICC) to help young people around the world prepare for the challenges of tomorrow: today. http://www.interclimate.org/challenge/
UPCOMING EVENTSIf you have a climate change event to add please either send through the details to jo at climatex.org , or add them yourself , simply click on 'submit a new event' on http://climatex.org/whats-new/ . ** Wednesday 14th January 5 p.m 'Green Economics' Book Launch Ruskin College Oxford in the Raphael Samuel Hall, Oxford Molly Scott-Cato will be launching her new book 'Green Economics'. The book will be introduced by James Robertson, pioneering alternative economist and co-founder of the New Economics Foundation. 'Here is a book which explains in clear terms the economic paradigm for the 21st Century. Green economics is not new. As Molly Scott Cato makes clear, it has been growing alongside the environmental movement and now offers a vision of a just, sustainable and fulfilling economic life.' Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP Wine and snacks will be served. If you would like to come please RSVP to Molly (email below). Further info and RSVP: Molly Scott Cato / molly@gaianeconomics.org ** Thurs 15th January, 7- 9pm at The Barn, Market Place, Henley Transition Town Henley invite you to: Save Energy ~ Save the Planet Save Money Come and hear about... *Carbon calculation, *Offsetting CO2 *Renewable energy, *The river as a source of energy for Henley Come and see... *Light Bulb Library, *SMART Meter Further info: transtownhenley@btinternet.com ** Thursday 22nd January 7:30 p.m. How to slash your energy bills: A talk on how to cut the energy we use in our home and still stay warm, with Mark Saunders, Principle Energy Officer, Vale of White Horse District Council. Venue: Vale and Downland Museum, Church Street, Wantage Wantage Area Climate Action info@wacagroup.com http://www.wacagroup.com/ Refreshments available, all welcome. ** Saturday 24 January ** Saturday 24th January Earthwatch Expeditions Open Day 10.00am -1.30pm ** Thursday January 29, 7.30pm The Green New Deal comes to Oxford. Venue: Assembly Rooms, Oxford Town Hall Public meeting and discussion with co-authors Caroline Lucas (MEP and Leader of the Green Party) and Colin Hines (Co-Director of Forum for the Future and former head of Greenpeace International's Economics Unit). The Green New Deal offers radical and practical solutions to today's Triple Crunch of Climate Change, Peak Oil and Financial Collapse. The proposals combine short-term stabilisation with long-term investment in green jobs, restructuring of energy, financial and taxation system. Ideas for action are to take place at local, national, regional and global levels. Apparently too radical as a whole for the larger political parties, though adopted as policy by the Green Party, parts are being taken up by economists, politicians and political commentators looking for real solutions to the current economic and environmental crises. The Green New Deal was published by New Economics Foundation and put together by the Green New Deal Group. After Caroline and Colin have spoken there will be the opportunity for as many people as possible to put forward their own views on "The Green New Deal". If you want to read "The Green New Deal" beforehand download it at file:///mhtml/%7BCFFB5EE9-90A1-4850-95AF-78F0F93E82EC%7Dmid/::00000019:!x-usc/http/::www.neweconomics.org:. *****
For further info and to get involved, contact info@climatex.org Email upcoming events to info@climatex.org
Subscribe to this update by sending a blank email to: climatex-subscribe@climatex.org
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