Month: November 2022

Great ways to give this Christmas

With Christmas now less than a month away, many of us will be starting to think about gifts and cards for family and friends and perhaps how we can make our festive celebrations a little more climate friendly this year.

We’ve brought together a few hassle-free ways to do some climate good this Christmas.

Give the gift of a donation

If you’re struggling to think of a gift for that person who has everything and want your money to do some real good for the planet this Christmas, give the gift of a donation to support local climate action this Christmas. £15 could help more people in energy crisis access our services through our energy helpline, £25 could support young people to get their climate concerns heard and £50 could help a community initiate a renewable energy project.

Make Christmas a little greener by donating to CAfS or click here to make a business donation.

Send festive e-cards and ditch paper card waste

We have signed up to the online platform Don’t Send Me a Card for you to send virtual festive wishes, and in the process, do something for the planet by reducing Christmas card waste. Save your precious time, and 140g of carbon for each card you don’t send, and donate the cost of your cards and stamps to us! There are several designs to choose from including a couple by our team and their children – head on over to have a look and donate the cost of your stamps to support CAfS this Christmas!

Send virtual Christmas cards though Don’t Send Me A Card

Give the gift of carbon literacy

If you’re looking for an alternative gift to give this Christmas or know someone who would be interested in learning more about the climate crisis and what they can do to make change, sign them up for one of our carbon literacy courses to help them start the new year in a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way.

Give a carbon literacy course – see our forthcoming events.

Give as you Live and support climate action through your festive shop

Raise money for CAfS through your online shopping at no extra cost to you by signing up to Give as you Live. Over 6,000 stores are involved so whether you’re shopping for sprouts, or purchasing Christmas PJs, by using the Give as you Live website or app we get a donation each time you shop!

Support CAfS through Give as you Live – Sign up now!

29 November 2022
Volunteer Climate Champions spread the message
Did you know about the growing network of climate champion volunteers across Cumbria?

In July we recruited a team of volunteer ‘climate champions’ for the second year in a row. Each champion completed accredited Carbon Literacy training delivered by us and further training to prepare them for setting up and delivering events in their community.

This year many of the events have had creative themes, such as green bunting and banner making and a plant-based brunch to engage families. In fact, one champion set up a dedicated Facebook group for parents to reduce their carbon emissions (which you can join; search ‘Cumbrian Parents Carbon Challenge’). Following that, a group of three champions held an online webinar sharing a whole range of ways to reduce both household costs and impact on the planet.

Our champions have been engaging their parish councils in putting climate matters on the agenda (for example in Levens in South Lakes, and St Bees in Copeland) or demonstrating composting best practice in Caldbeck and Gosling Sike. Another champion connected with an organisation that enables adults to deliver talks in schools to encourage students to make green career choices (this champion recently spoke to thirty 6th formers at a school in Appleby). We have even seen musical events, such as a concert with musicians performing songs about the climate and our relationship to the earth, with each artist explaining why they had chosen that song and why it is so important to drive down our emissions.

There are some events planned for December – why not go along?
- 5th: ‘When climate change makes you move’ – A talk and presentation about how extreme weather events in the Global South are forcing people to migrate. Friends Meeting House, Cockermouth, 7.30pm. Register (free of charge) on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-climate-change-makes-you-move-a-talk-by-joe-human-tickets-466301629727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
- 7th: Participatory Practice in Action – learn how to engage an audience in a discussion through taking part in this lively workshop. We’ll be tackling the ever present issue of how to bring more people into taking action on the climate crisis. Eden Rural Foyer, 10.30am – 3pm. Lunch included! Contact Clare, project coordinator.
- 15th: ‘When climate change makes you move’ – A talk and presentation about how extreme weather events are forcing people in the Global South to migrate. Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven.
Next year, funding permitting, we would like to recruit a new cohort of champions to continue igniting the ambition within all Cumbrian residents to help our county reach net zero by 2037.

Watch this space for more details.
28 November 2022
Young people draw a roadmap to greener transport

Schoolchildren from all over Cumbria have called for local action to ensure sustainable, safe transport and to tackle climate change, at a Youth Climate Summit held on 20 October in Carlisle.

The event, supported by CAfS through the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, explored the theme of Making Change in Your Community: Transport Solutions. The pupils questioned how they could steer climate action in the county. They heard from guest speaker Richard Ingham, Bicycle Mayor of Cumbria, about his mission to convince policy-makers to invest in more infrastructure for cycling in the county, and to grow a culture of cycling for transport.

The young people then developed ideas for green and safe local transport options and how to bring them into action. They examined how to communicate messages through different artforms, and how to plan a campaign that could influence their local community and beyond. The children re-imagined what Cumbria might look like with fewer cars and sustainable transport solutions.

One of the young people who attended said: “We really enjoyed the summit. Meeting other young people and building connections and finding out more about the impact transport has on the climate. It was great to have the opportunity to share our ideas and the projects we have been working on in our schools and taking part in workshops.”

The summit closed with schools making pledges and thinking about their next steps. Following on from the event, the pupils will now present their findings and discussions to decision makers in Cumbria.

“It is always an inspiration to work with young people to build solutions for issues they are passionate about,” said Laura Goad, director of Cumbria Development Education Centre, who organised the event in association with CAfS, on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.

“We look forward to supporting our schools and young people to turn their ideas into actions. We are also grateful to the range of partners who supported the day, by delivering workshops and bringing their expertise. A special thanks goes to Isabella, Clare and Matilda – the young people who hosted and facilitated the event.”

Partnership co-chair and CAfS chief executive, Karen Mitchell, said: “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see our young people use their voices and develop their ideas on how Cumbria can tackle the really difficult issue of reducing our polluting emissions from transport. Involving young people in this way is a hugely important part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s approach to fighting climate change. Decision makers must now respond to what our young people are demanding as it’s their futures that we must protect.”

The event was hosted at Carlisle United’s ground. Carlisle United Charitable Sports Trust sustainability officer, Natasha Messier, said: “The Trust was really pleased and excited to support the Youth Climate Summit event. It builds on our sustainability work as a trust. The young people were inspirational and powerful.”

The Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership brings together 80 organisations working towards the goal of net zero carbon emissions in the county. Co-chaired by CAfS and Cumbria County Council, the partnership is supported by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund.

1 November 2022
New Zero Carbon Cumbria website goes live

A new hub for climate action in Cumbria opens its doors to the online world this week. The new Zero Carbon Cumbria website brings together all the great things happening across Cumbria to cut carbon emissions and help Cumbrians play their part in global action to stop the climate crisis.

CAfS created the website on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, so it’s exciting for us to see it go live and to celebrate all the climate action already under way, by people from all walks of life, from businesses to residents. The launch comes at a particularly topical time, with the UN climate summit, COP27, kicking off at the weekend.

The website is for everyone who lives, works or studies in Cumbria. Visitors can learn more about climate change, what’s causing it, how it’s affecting us here in Cumbria and what’s being done about it. It’s also the place to keep up to date with local climate news and events, and to see some great examples of people who are taking action in their work and home lives.

It’s also the website of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, where visitors can learn more about what the partnership is aiming to do and who’s taking part.

And it’s the online home of the Cumbria Sustainability Network, helping visitors to find their local community sustainability group.

The website also brings together information about the citizens’ juries that have been held in Cumbria so far.

So, why not stop in for a browse! You’ll find it at zerocarboncumbria.co.uk. The site will continue to evolve, but your early feedback would be very welcome, along with suggestions for other information you’d like to see there. Please get in touch – email [email protected].

1 November 2022