         
Happy February and apologies for not getting a mailing out for a couple of months. It's been busy - see below for great news of community groups scooping national funding for their projects.. plus heaps of upcoming events.
Meanwhile this weekend students are hosting the Oxford Climate Forum - a student activity engaging about 25 other UK universities. The events listing is bursting as usual - please keep sending through upcoming events and reports of you events to share with others.
1. IN THE NEWS
1.1 Copenhagen - Environmental Change Institute held an event discussing Copenhagen back in January. The podcast of the event makes very interesting listening - you can listen to it here: http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/articles/100115-cop-panel.php
1.2 See the post Copenhagen Scorecard analysis from Foreign Policy Magazine here: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/02/04/post_copenhagen_scorecard?page=0,0
1.3 Himalayan Glaciers retreating... According to Dr. Arun B. Shrestha, Climate Change Specialist at the Nepal-based inter-governmental regional organisation International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), most Himalayan glaciers in Bhutan, China, India and Nepal are retreating. See the article here: http://uk.oneworld.net/article/view/164589/1/246
1.4 Also see the Real Climate entry on glacial retreat: http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2010/01/the-ipcc-is-not-infallible-shock/
1.5 A BBC Poll shows that the number of British people who are sceptical about climate change is rising. Further info: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8500443.stm
2. RESOURCES 2.1 In Transition DVD available to borrow ClimateXchange has purchased a copy of ‘In Transition 1.0' If you've screened Age of Stupid recently, and want a follow up giving inspirational local solutions (age of sanity?!), then this is the DVD for you. See the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkxJssl950w To arrange a screening locally contact jo@climatex.org / 01865 275 856
1.2 Community Carbon Footprint tool: The Community Carbon Footprint Tool can help you to understand the footprint of your community, showing where the biggest sources of carbon emissions are and how you can tackle them. The tool can be used to work out the footprint of your community as a whole but members of your community can also use it to calculate their personal footprints, using the same system as the governments "Act on CO2" calculator. http://www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk/
1.3 The psychology of climate change communication, published by the Centre for Research on Environmental Decisions at Columbia University: http://cred.columbia.edu/guide/ .
3. COMMUNITIES UPDATE.
3.1 Job opportunity: Passionate about climate change? This could be just the opportunity you're looking for. See item 6.1 below for more info, deadline Feb 19th.
3.2 Big Climate Event - the report can be downloaded here: http://www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk/big-climate-event.
3.3 Congratulations to DECC Low Carbon Communities Challenge Winners: West Oxford Community Renewables (WOCR) and Low Carbon Hook Norton, who have both scooped funding from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)'s Low Carbon Communities Challenge: WOCR will pilot a community renewables building society' that will support the development of an integrated approach to low carbon living in West Oxford. Further info: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/lc_communities/lccc_winners/lccc_winners.aspx Hook Norton will install a heat recovery system, solar panels, two community electric pool cars and a ground source heat pump at the local primary school (Hook Norton Church of England Primary School); provide interest free loans for a whole-house retro-fit of six homes; and more. Further info: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/lc_communities/lc_communities.aspx In total, 10 Oxfordshire groups submitted applications - so well done to everyone for submitting their visions and plans. 3.4 Nesta Big Green Challenge Congratulations also to Low Carbon West Oxford for being a runner up winner in NESTA's Big Green Challenge. Further info: http://www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/public_services_lab/environment/big_green_challenge 3.5 Tackley has successfully bid for, and been awarded, one of the British Gas Green Streets awards. Further info: http://www.tackleyvillage.co.uk/tgsh.html Congratulations Tackley.
3.6 Low Carbon East Oxford The newly formed Low Carbon East Oxford has lots of exciting ideas and will be holding a series of themed meetings to discuss, plan and act on them in March - April 2010. Dates/ themes are: •· Wednesday 3rd March, 7.30: Eco-renovation •· Tuesday 9th March: OxCar AGM/ Transport, Gladiator Club, Percy St •· Tuesday 30th March, 7.30: Food •· Wednesday 14 March, 7.30: Cowley Road shops and East Oxford businesses.
Venues to be confirmed. To receive further information on exact times and venues, sign up to the Low Carbon East Oxford google group at: http://groups.google.com/group/low-carbon-east-oxford?hl=en-GB or email Catrina Pickering, catrina_pickering@yahoo.co.uk.
3.7 Kidlington Versus Climate Change - had a great Climate Change Condensed course on Sat 6th Feb. Upcoming events are a Sustainability fayre in June - get in touch for further info: kidlingtonvsclimatechange@yahoo.co.uk
3.8 Possible Series of Thriving Sustainably Evenings in summer 2010. Upcoming meeting on Feb. 18th at 19:00 (hopefully at the West Oxford Community Centre, but to be confirmed) to plan and co-ordinate a series of evenings during June and July, with an overall flavour similar to Thriving Sustainably, i.e. bringing together sustainability with the creative, social and psychological skills necessary to actually make it happen. Contact: michael.soth@googlemail.com
3.9 Green Communities are launching a new service which will deliver targeted support at key points within the development of community projects. This would be in the form of:
•· Encouraging communities to complete an action plan for carbon reduction •· Expert advice and support on making an action plan practical, achievable and effective •· Signposting to advice and help •· A Home Energy Check drop for the community and report outlining what home energy measures are needed within the community •· The offer to arrange a local area-based home energy efficiency scheme.
This scheme would offer 5 days of support as opposed to the 30 day support service offered with the local support programme, meaning that the community would have our full support for that period, but wouldn't feel we were taking over their ideas and ambitions, just guiding them along and supporting the community at key stages of the project(s). Contact James Kirkwood: James.Kirkwood@est-tvs.org.uk
4. ECO-RENOVATION
4.1 Date for your diary: Ideal Green Home Show 23 - 24th April - see below for further info. We're looking for volunteers to help out at the show, please email jo@climatex.org if you'd like to help.
4.2 Feed in Tariffs: These will be launched on 1st April 2010, and will provide financial incentives for people and businesses to install electricity-generating technologies such as solar electricity panels and wind turbines. Grants for Solar thermal are still available, see the info on their website here: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/
4.3 Recent eco-renovation club events Brightwell cum Sotwell hosted an evening on renovating old buildings with the SEED group (http://www.seed-group.co.uk/ ), which provoked a lot of interest in breathable insulation. The intro to Solar PV evening at the solar electric house at the end of November was packed, and informative, and the launch event on 30th November provided really useful networking opportunities (and some problem solving). This week we've had events on Solar thermal hot water and solid wall insulation. Details of these events will be added to the Eco-renovation club pages next week.
4.4 The Boiler scrappage scheme was announced earlier in the year: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Heating-and-hot-water/Boiler-Scrappage-Scheme Note: if you're considering trading in your boiler for a newer version and considering solar hot water in the future, make sure your system will be compatible!
4.5 Blogs - Tina's experiences of solid wall insulation seem to be paying off: http://climatex.org/ecorenovation/
4.6 Eco-build in London - 2-4th March Ecobuild is the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. Packed with events, products, talks and seminars, it's free to go - but you need to register online http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/.
4.7 Top Trumps Lost the top-trumps edge? A game of 33 playing cards, each presenting
5. OTHER CLIMATE INFO: 5.1 FOCUS ON LOW CARBON LIVING PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION UKERC (UK Energy Research Centre) are asking young people from around the UK to explore what low carbon living could actually mean, and to reproduce these ideas through photographs and captions. Full details are available from the website: Http://tinyurl.com/Photo-CompetitionUKERC Entries and short stories or descriptions of why the photo reflects Low Carbon Living should be submitted by email to: meeting.place@ukerc.ac.uk by 20th February 2010.
6. JOBS 6.1 Passionate about climate change? This could be just the opportunity you're looking for.
ORCC and Oxfordshire ClimateXchange have jointly been awarded funding for a new two-year project designed to encourage community-based action to reduce energy use, promote sustainability and mitigate climate change. ORCC is looking to recruit a Community Development work (Climate Change) for 7 hours a week to run the ORCC element of the project. The salary is £23,472 p.a. (pro rota). Further info: http://www.oxonrcc.org.uk/index.php?smid=748 Closing date Fri 19th Feb.
6.2 SCHOOLS ENERGY PROJECT OFFICER £18,400 pa- full time Are you passionate about the environment and love working with children? Then we want to hear from you. Working within the ‘Energy Busters' team at the Northmoor Trust, the Schools Energy Project Officer is responsible for providing high quality energy education and carbon reduction related workshops to schools and youth groups around Oxfordshire.
For a full Job Description, Person Specification and more information on the Trust visit http://www.northmoortrust.co.uk/ or contact Edd Thomas for an informal discussion on 01865 409403 or edd.thomas@northmoortrust.co.uk
Closing date for applications is 22nd February Northmoor Trust, Hill Farm, Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire, OX14 4QZ
7. Upcoming events add your event our online calendar here: http://climatex.org/whats-new/
7.1 Friday 12th February, 6:30pm: "The Politics of Climate Change: Problems and Solutions" Venue: Oxford Union Debating Chamber - Free entry to all (members and non-members) World-renowned British sociologist and public policy advisor Lord Anthony Giddens will be giving a public lecture on the politics of climate change to mark the launch of the inaugural Oxford Climate Forum this weekend. He will draw on his extensive experience working across the boundaries of government, media and academia to highlight the key barriers to climate change mitigation efforts and to propose the path forward. There is no need to register for this event, but please do arrive in good time to ensure a prompt start.
7.2 Tuesday 16th February 'In Transition 1.0' 8pm in the Rose and Thistle, Station Rd, Haddenham. This has been billed as the sequel to 'Age of Stupid'! Further info: dakeyd10@googlemail.com
7.3 Friday 19th February. Screening of ‘Home' DVD by Yann Arthus Bertrand (he of Earth from the Air fame) 7.30pm, Blewbury Methodist Hall. http://www.sustainable/-blewbury.org.uk
7.4 Saturday 27th Feb: The big Transition Thame & District event: Saturday February 27 we will be holding a community 'consultation event' in the Town Hall in Thame between 2pm and 4pm. Further info: dakeyd10@googlemail.com
7.5 Sunday 7th March East Oxford Give Away Day Low Carbon East Oxford is organising a Give Away Day on Sunday 7th March (10am-4pm). The idea is simple: put a Give Away poster up outside your house and have that old television/ tea set/ computer desk taken off your hands without your even having to so much as leave the house. Alternatively, take a stroll through the streets of East Oxford and see what freebies are on offer. To find out more, participate or/ and get your free poster, join the Low Carbon East Oxford google group at http://groups.google.com/group/low-carbon-east-oxford?hl=en-GB or contact Catrina Pickering, catrina_pickering@yahoo.co.uk.
7.6 Monday 15th March: Hydropower seminar, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Following on from the success of our first Hydropower Seminar in March 2009, this is an opportunity to assess what progress has been made since then, to hear case studies such as the Goring Project and to consider the way forward. Speakers to include: Chair, Dr Royce Longton, Chairman, TV Energy Brendon Barrow, B.Spoke EWaterpower David DeChambeau, Southeast Power Engineering Tim Reeder and Andrew Wybrow, Environment Agency Alison Wilshaw, TV EnergyRiver and Rowing Museum. Contact email: edbookings@rrm.co.uk Contact number: 01491 415 600 Website: http://www.rrm.co.uk Venue: River and Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames 7.7 Thursday 18 March, 11am-12.30pm The Role of Computing in Climate Science, by Dr Robert Bishop, President - ICESF Venue: 21st Century School, Old Indian Institute Building (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets). events@21school.ox.ac.uk 7.8 Oxford Permaculture Design Course - Beginning weekend 27th/28th March. Do you want to make our community more sustainable and resilient to changing 7.9 Oxfordshire Ideal Green Home Show Fri 23rd April 4-7pm and Sat 24th April 10 - 4pm Oxford Town Hall, St Aldates, Oxford
For further information about the stall holders and programme of talks visit http://www.ecovation.org.uk/ or call 01865 275 856 / email info@climatex.org Suggested donation of £2 per adult on the door.
Organised by Oxfordshire ClimateXchange and Climate Outreach Information Network (COIN) with generous support of Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
7.10 22-23 May NURTURING HOPE IN A TIME OF FALLING LIGHT Weekend workshop facilitated by Nick Totton , Grove House in Iffley. Further info: http://www.grovehouse.info/
**** For further info and to get involved, contact info@climatex.org Email upcoming events to info@climatex.org or upload them yourself: http://climatex.org/whats-new/
Subscribe to this update by sending a blank email to: climatex-subscribe@climatex.org
Article by
jo_hamilton
Bookmark to: |
