Futureproof Cumbria

Month: November 2023

  • What is COP28 – and what can it achieve?

    What is COP28 – and what can it achieve?

    What is ‘COP’? 

    COP stands for Conference of the Parties – and it is the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, now in it’s 28th year. The ‘parties’ are the original countries which signed up to the UN Climate change treaty in 1994. . The president of this year’s COP, which begins on 30 November in Dubai  is Sultan Al Jaber, who is the president of the state oil company of the United Arab Emirates – a highly controversial choice. 

    Over the years there have been numerous targets, agreements, hopes and disappointments at different COPs.  

    The Paris agreement in 2015 (COP 21) set out legally binding requirements for countries to hold global temperature rises to “well below 2C” while “pursuing efforts” to stay within 1.5C, yet the world remains on course for a 2.5 C increase.  

    Recent COP meetings have focussed on exploring areas such as a loss and damage fund to support developing countries. At COP27 there were significant pledges by Australia, and a commitment from Brazil to reduce deforestation. As is traditional, the hosts of the COP set the focus for the discussions which this year will be: 

    • Clean energy – fast tracking the renewable energy transition. 
    • Putting nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, including supporting the most vulnerable.  
    • Delivering on finance; making good on old promises and setting a new deal for finance 
    • Mobilising inclusivity; ensuring decisions, solutions and discussions are truly inclusive of local communities and indigenous peoples.  

    What have the conferences done for Cumbria?  

    An important question, as here in Cumbria you could be forgiven for thinking that decisions and pledges made on the other side of the world don’t have a huge local impact.  

    However, some UK policies have been influenced by COP pledges.   

    For example, the UK government is committed to reducing energy use in buildings, which has led to funding for nationwide retrofit projects. (£1.8 billion awarded to boost energy efficiency and cut emissions of homes and public buildings across England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Here at CAfS, retrofitting and cutting energy use in buildings have been a focus of our work for some time as carbon emissions from buildings are around 21% of our total emissions footprint in Cumbria. You can help by stopping the wasting of heat in your home or work – and our Retrofit Made Easy project is a good place to start   

    With Cumbria’s farming and agriculture sector in mind, there was a significant focus on methane at COP26. Last year, the UK government released a memorandum: United Kingdom methane memorandum. 

    CAfS is now working with farmers and their representative organisations to help ensure we can produce and consume low carbon food. 

    COP 27 also, for the first time, included a reference to health as, “the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.” At CAfS we have recognised for many years the co-benefits for communities to be gained from adopting low carbon initiatives, such eBikes and locally grown food, so that we fight climate change AND improve our well-being and healthy habits. You can read more about this on the Zero Carbon Cumbria site here.  

    We’ll be sharing updates from COP 28 on our social media channels, so do make sure you are following them: Twitter/X | Facebook |LinkedIn |

  • Community Energy England Award Success

    Community Energy England Award Success

    And we’re winners!

    We were very proud indeed to receive not one, but three awards on Friday night at the Community Energy England awards in Salford.

    We took home the Community Energy Organisation of the Year (large) award and the Climate and Environmental Impact award. We were also highly commended for the Fuel Poverty Action award.

    The awards are recognition of the work, passion and dedication of all of the team here at CAfS, and acknowledge the breadth of work that we do. Our projects from our Cold to Cosy Homes, through to our Solar Made Easy work to make changes for Cumbrians that reduce carbon emissions, save money and make our lives more comfortable. To be recognised at a national level is incredibly fulfilling, as Karen Mitchell our CEO explains:

    “We’ve had another incredibly busy year – developing new partnerships and projects and securing funding to deliver them, growing the team and inspiring and supporting all kinds of people and organisations to change the way they do things to benefit the environment. The awards gave us a chance to recognise and celebrate all that we’ve achieved, to feel good about the difference we’re making and feel part of the national movement of action on the climate crisis. It’s also been heartwarming to receive all the lovely messages about our awards too from our network. It’s a win for the whole Cumbria community!”

    You can read more about the categories and winners here. 

     

     

  • Job: Finance & Resources Manager

    Job: Finance & Resources Manager

    We’re looking for a finance professional to take the lead on the day-to-day management of our finances who also has the appetite to work strategically and develop new, more efficient ways of managing our budgets and staffing capacity – which will in turn help CAfS deliver more climate action. It is a role which sits at the heart of CAfS, working across all our teams and closely with the chief executive and board of trustees. It involves delivering both daily financial activities and helping to shape the longer term direction of CAfS.

    You will have a track record of developing and implementing financial management, monitoring and reporting systems. You will have an interest and ability in working at a strategic level. Your numeracy skills will be excellent as will your ability to develop collaborative relationships with your colleagues.

    The role also leads our tight-knit finance and admin team of four part time employees with one direct report. This team is the backbone of CAfS. The finance manager line manages our office and people support manager, who ensures the day-to-day implementation of various aspects of office administration and HR including recruitment, induction, performance management, data protection and health and safety. The team also includes a dedicated administration and finance officer who delivers day to day support for financial management.

    To apply, please email your completed Expression of Interest form and your CV to us by 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

    Interviews are planned for Wednesday 10 January 2024. 

    The important stuff

    • SALARY SCALE: £32,000 – £42,000 (FTE)

    • LOCATION: Flexible working patterns with blended home, site and office (Penrith) work.

    • HOURS: 22.5 – 30 hours per week, with flexibility to be worked over up to five days per week.

    • START DATE AND DURATION: This is a permanent role, with the start date as soon as possible.

    You’ll love working at CAfS

    Working at CAfS comes with great benefits. You’ll be joining a friendly and supportive organisation, and your wellbeing and work:life balance are hugely important to us. As well as flexibility around your working hours and location, you’ll have 22 days of paid annual leave pro rata, plus bank/public holidays. We pay an employer pension contribution of 6% from day one of employment.

    What a job at CAfS offers you…

    • The opportunity to be on the frontline driving action on climate change as part of a respected organisation that is making a difference.

    • Collaboration with dedicated colleagues, communities, local authorities and other organisations who are striving towards the same goal.

    • A dynamic working environment in which we continually innovate to achieve the best outcomes for employees, communities and planet.

    • A consultative working culture where staff are encouraged to contribute to new developments.

    Our work culture and benefits…

    • We are a friendly and supportive team of colleagues and board of trustees

    • We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all that we do.

    • We will provide the equipment you need to do your job.

    • Employee wellbeing is very important to us. We do what we can to help colleagues achieve a great work/life balance.

    • We have a flexible working policy and we use it. Most staff work part time so we are accustomed to managing different work patterns. Staff can also work at home where possible.

    • We invest in learning and development and encourage people to develop their skills and commit time and resources to development.

    Find out even more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

  • Carbon Literacy Action Day

    Carbon Literacy Action Day

    Monday 4 December sees the world’s largest climate education-and-action training event – Carbon Literacy Action Day – and we are very proud to be playing our part!

    Carbon Literacy Action Day (CLAD) is led by the Carbon Literacy Project and coincides with the UN Climate Change Conference; COP 28. And whilst world leaders gather in Dubai, Carbon Literacy learners everywhere will undergo training that educates and inspires them to take meaningful action on climate change. It offers an opportunity for as many learners as possible from organisations, sectors, backgrounds and nations all around the world, to complete their Carbon Literacy training simultaneously on a single day, and as a result, pledge positive action to reduce carbon emissions and become officially certified as Carbon Literate

    Here at CAfS our course on the day is getting back to face-to-face courses that are open to everyone. Holding an event in Penrith that will generate increased levels of activity, involvement and allow like-minded people to come together in a common motivation to pledge positive action.

    Hazel Graham, our Carbon Literacy Training Manager explains the excitement,

    “It is a real privilege to be part of the Carbon Literacy Project action day, our Climate and Carbon literacy courses have gone from strength to strength since their inception in 2019.  This course will mean we have trained over 1500 individuals from Cumbria and beyond in a variety of climate and carbon literacy courses, empowering people and organisations in the fight for strong action on the climate crisis and giving them the tools needed to make reductions in their carbon footprint. This day means that we will part of action that will include thousands of people from all walks of life and from all over the planet. And we can’t wait!”

    Our event is at the Eden Rural Foyer building in Penrith, and will include a delicious low-carbon lunch. Attendees on the day will receive, along with their carbon literacy accreditation, a special Carbon Literacy Action Day certificate.

    Find out more here.