Glastonbury Climate Emergency & Resilience
In 2019 the UN Secretary-General stated:
“it is abundantly clear that climate disruption is happening now and everywhere.”
And in 2020, WWF reported that
“our planet’s wildlife populations have now plummeted by 68% since 1970.”
In 2019, Glastonbury Town Council declared a climate emergency, and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. The next year, the UK was the first country to pass laws to make sure that the country reaches net zero by 2050. This will mean big changes to the way we live. At the same time, our daily lives have been completely disrupted by a virus, as the damage to nature and other difficulties caused by climate change come closer to our door.
This time offers us a new chance to change how we live and work. We can choose to do whatever we can with wisdom, and with kindness for each other, and for nature.
What Glastonbury Town Council is doing
When we looked at the greenhouse gases that Glastonbury Town Council produces, we found that what we do causes roughly 46 tonnes (46,000kg) of carbon dioxide to be released each year. Switching to a renewable electricity supplier has saved 11 tonnes. But the 35 tonnes will be much more difficult. We are starting this work in five areas:
- Cut out waste – (Always the first step) Finding ways to use less energy, fuel, materials and water. And to create less waste. GTC has started with an assessment of our carbon dioxide emissions (see CER report), identifying where we can cut waste.We have already saved water by improving toilets and using 5000 litres of rainwater storage for watering plants.
- Switch to renewable energy – Switching to electric heating, vehicles, and equipment, so that we can use renewable energy to power them. GTC has switched to 100% renewable energy supplier.
- Support nature – Protecting and restoring forests, peatlands, wetlands, soils, water, and other natural systems. GTC has planted hedges in Herbies field, plus trees there and around the town centre. We have also made our planting areas Glyphosate free zones, by introducing a new weed control system.
- Share – Telling people about what works, supporting community groups, buying local, switching to ethical suppliers and banks, pushing government for support. This website is the first step in GTC’s aim to share experience and expertise to the wider community, and support community groups.
- Prepare for the changes ahead – Plan ways to protect the town from flooding, storms and other impacts. Support community groups, and individuals, to cope with coming changes. The town Investment Plan offers many opportunities for this work. By planning renovations of buildings and services, GTC is protecting them from future climate impacts. By improving communications and support, we aim to help people to prepare for the changes ahead.
- Climate Emergency & Resilience Report
2021-04-28 Climate Emergency Report
- CER Presentation
2021-04-28 Climate Emergency Report presentation slides
- Glastonbury Charter for the Environment
Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC)
Following Glastonbury Town Council’s declaration of Climate Emergency, a group of town councillors and individuals first met in July 2019 to discuss and support local projects that help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, protect the environment, and create a more climate resilient community.
Members: Councillors: S Barnet, J Cousins, J Keery, P Lund, B Outten, C Prior, S Roney-Dougal, M Smyth, L MacDougall.
If you are interested in getting involved with the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, please contact Serena. Roney-Dougal – firstname.lastname@example.org
What the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee (CEAC) is doing
- Open Day and People’s Assembly.
- Support for the Towns Deal ‘Town Investment Plan’ bid.
- Town Centre Refurbishments.
- Appointment of Climate Emergency & Resilience Officer.
- Supporting the development of Glastonbury Community Fridge.
- Links with Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion, the Conservation Society, environmental and community groups, food growers, businesses.
- Local group activities: traffic slowing, tree planting, rewilding verges, volunteer litter-picking, and cycle-path clearing.
- Climate Emergency Group (CEG) Newsletter August 2021
CEG Newsletter August 2021
- CEAC Meeting Minutes June 2021
CEAC Meeting Minutes June 2021
- CEAC Report Apr 2021
CEAC Report Apr 2021
What you can do
However small you start, you can help to build a better future for everyone, protecting and restoring nature. Maybe you want to start by measuring and cutting your carbon footprint, or you might want to save money, protect nature or help others. Here are some things to you may want to try:
- Cut out waste – (Make this your first step) Look at where you are using most energy, and start by considering where you can cut out any waste. A good place to start is your bills: gas, electricity, water, vehicle fuel. Then have a look at your spending on other things, food, clothing, furniture. By using less, you can make a big difference fast, and save money too.
- Switch to renewable energy – If you are able, and if it doesn’t cost you more, there are some switches you can consider when it’s time to chose: 100% renewable electricity supplier, solar panels on your roof, investment in a community-owned renewable electricity installation, electric heating, car and equipment.
- Support nature – If you have a garden, stop cutting the grass, plant trees and flowers, and create habitats and ponds that will support wildlife. Ask government to protect forests, peatlands, wetlands, soils, water, and other natural systems.
- Share – Join one of the many activities working with the Glastonbury’s Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, or start you own. Talk with your friends, family and neighbours about what interests you. Use your buying power – ask how things are made and where they come from. Put pressure on Government.
- Prepare for the changes ahead – Check that you home is protected from flood and storm, and that it is cool and ventilated as the summers get warmer. Connect with your neighbours and community groups. If you’re concerned about the changes ahead, that’s normal and natural. Acknowledge your concerns, talk with people you trust, and learn what helps.
On the last Sunday of each month, a lively and friendly group of people come together to pick up any stray bits of litter around the town. During the last couple of gatherings, we’ve filled our bin bags to bursting with cigarette ends, food wrappers, bottle tops, drinks cans and bottles, plus 2 broken prams, cooking pots and half a scooter. And when we’re done, we share our tales of litter over a coffee.
If you would like to join our band of merry pickers, we’ll be meeting outside the Town Hall at 10am on the last Sunday of each month. You’ll be provided with picker sticks, HiVis jackets, gloves, bin bags and hoops to keep the bags open. It’s a lovely way to meet new friends, while exploring and caring for the town we love.
A regular event held at St Edmunds Hall – contact: email@example.com
See here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwro1NabPYo for a report on the opening.
Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, et cetera. You’ll also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields. Visitors bring their broken items from home. In the Repair Café, they start making their repairs, together with the specialists. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY.
- Repair Cafe Leaflet
Repair Cafe leaflet
Top Tips on How We Can Save the Planet
Many of us feel overwhelmed, and find it difficult to know where to start. This list of tips was produced by Laura Sorenson, and she suggests that we can start with the little things, ticking off what we can do one by one, and feeling good about contributing in a positive way. The list of actions is arranged into each area of your life: General; Home; Energy Use; Shopping; Garden; Travel and Transport; Lobbying, Campaigning, Voting, Influencing.
- Top Tips Save Earth
Top Tips Save Earth
Affordable Solar Panels for Glastonbury Residents
Local installers, Sunlit Solar, supported by Glastonbury Town Council, are offering a 10 panel 3.7kW system from £4,000. Clean renewable energy, lower bills, reduced carbon emissions. Enquiries to: Mike Rogers (Sunlit Solar) Email: firstname.lastname@example.org or phone: 01458-834936 / 07929-105882
For more information, download these documents:
- Affordable Solar Panels
Affordable Solar Panels 210720
- Community Cooperative Offer
3.7kw Community Cooperative Offer
Links to some useful websites.
Carbon and ecological footprint calculators
- How big is your environmental footprint? – https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/
- How many planets do we need if everyone lives like you? – https://www.footprintcalculator.org
- Simple Carbon footprint calculator – https://www.carbonindependent.org
- Laura’s Larder, exploring the impacts of our diets on greenhouse gas emissions and health – https://cat.org.uk/lauras-larder
Local groups and resources
This list of local resources is an excellent place to start. It was put together by members of ‘Changing Times’, a local group set up as a response to the growing global crisis. – https://www.glastoncentre.org/local-resources.html
- More links
- Inspiration – films and stories
- Funding and grants
- More detailed guidance on various topics: Home, transport, food, etc.
- Tell us what you feel about what we’re doing.
- Tell us what you need.
- Share with us something that inspires you.
- Share any ideas that might be helpful for others.
Contact us at email@example.com