News
UN Climate Change Conference 2021 | COP26
Mon, 15 November 202131st October – 12th November
For the last 2 weeks, the world’s nations have gathered in Glasgow for COP26 - the UN Conference of Parties. A draft COP26 text was released to form the basis of an agreement at the end of the conference.
The UN reported recently that the current pledges are still inadequate. In this crucial decade, COP26 is maybe the world’s best last chance to keep the Paris Agreement on the agenda and get runaway climate change under control.
Headline Agreements
- More than 100 world leaders, representing 85% of the world’s forest, promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030
- More than 40 countries, including major coal-users including Poland, Vietnam and Chile, agreed to shift away from coal.
- Some 450 financial organisations agreed to back "clean" technology and direct finance away from fossil fuel-burning industries.
- US and China pledged to boost climate co-operation over the next decade, on a range of issues including clean energy & de-carbonisation
Does it go far enough?
"What happened at COP26 – Days at a glance" by Guardian.
Day 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11
Funding Opportunities
Mon, 15 November 2021
- Together for Our Planet
Amount: £1,000 to £10,000
Deadline: 5pm on Thursday 18th NovemberA £2.5 million National Lottery funding programme is available to voluntary and community organisations for small-scale projects that take action on climate change. Projects should focus on one or more of the following areas: Food, Transport, Energy, Waste and Consumption, and the Natural Environment.
- Funding For School Climate & Biodiversity Projects (UK)
Amount: Up to £3,000
Deadline: End of November 2021
The Royal Society is inviting applications to their Tomorrow’s Climate Scientist programme to give students across the UK the opportunity to take action to address climate and biodiversity issues. Grants are available to UK primary or secondary schools to run a STEM investigation project for students aged 4 and 18
- Aviva Climate Fund
Amount: £250,000
Deadline: Applications open for the first round of funding in 2022.Aviva Climate Fund awards £250,000 to community causes across the UK each quarter. It invests in projects that build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK. Your idea must fall within one of the two key funding areas: Climate Action or Financial Wellbeing.
Community Conversation | Belper and DE56
Mon, 15 November 2021
Last month, Transition Belper held a “community conversation” event to facilitate a whole town climate conversation. The event was a success - 51 participants (out of 65 registered) attended! Participants included residents, community groups, sustainability experts, Transition Belper trustees and members, local councillors, and the local MP.
They worked through a 2030 visioning process created by the Transition Network (TN) - What is? What If? What Next?
Ideas were grouped into themes, votes were cast on which were the most viable, and turned into plans for change. The final themes explored include: low carbon development, zero waste, youth engagement, and the introduction of a town-centre 20 mph speed limit.
Sounds like a productive day - well done Transition Belper & everyone who attended!
You can read the summary of the visioning event here.
Proposal to Rewild Allestree Park in Derby City, New Pop Up Climate Spaces in Nottingham City, Consultation open on Nottingham City Reducing Emissions Planning Guide, and more...
Mon, 15 November 2021Local News In Brief (November 2021)
- Derby City’s Allestree Park Set to Become UK's Largest Urban Rewilding Greenspace
If given the green light, steps to rewild Allestree Park could include the creation of new habitats through minimal intervention such as woodlands, grasslands, wetland and scrubland, the creation of community orchards and community growing and looking at reintroducing key species, such as water vole, and harvest mouse.
- ‘Pop-up’ Spaces For Climate-Change Conversations in Nottingham
Organisers in Nottingham have come together to create a space to allow people to share ideas about the city’s green future. It will be open from noon until 3pm most days of the week, except Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Consultation on Draft Nottingham City Planning Guide for Reducing Carbon Emissions in New Developments Across the City
View the proposals in full and have your say. Consultation closes 29th November
Zero Carbon Yorkshire & Solar-Active | STEM sessions For Young People
Mon, 15 November 2021
In January 2021, Zero Carbon Yorkshire received funding from Leeds Community Foundation. In partnership with local Sheffield charity, Solar-Active (Schools & Homes Energy Education Project), this funding was used to develop online workshops for young people focused on renewable energy technologies and STEM.
They are seeking participants from teachers, parents, young people, youth groups, STEM Ambassadors and anyone doing online learning at home. The sessions are aimed at KS3/KS4 (7+ would require collaborative work with another older child or parent/guardian to build the car).
Contact david@solar-active.com for our online registration form and further details.