On the 12th of November Our Planet Our Future invited local residents to share their thoughts on climate.
The relaxed evening began with a short clip from ‘Of Walking On Thin Ice‘ by Ben Wigley, a film which charted the Camino to COP26. Over 1,000 walkers took the 500-mile pilgrimage from London to Glasgow. After the screening, we agreed it was nice to hear from the walkers themselves and those they met on the way to Glasgow. It felt particularly poignant given that COP 29 was in progress in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Celebrating personal action
The first open mic topic was about the power of taking bitesize individual actions at small scale. These can be accessible even to people who aren’t knowledgeable about sustainability. The speaker talked about successful programmes helping people make small shifts they can celebrate, including the Low Carbon-Living programme, Take The Jump, and Count Us In.
But it’s also a challenge engaging the mainstream in sustainability action. The negative image of disruptive activist groups can put people off joining positive action groups. And in areas with more economic deprivation, people often view sustainable living as a luxury they can’t afford.
Some organisations have sprung up to tackle hardship and food waste simultaneously. Too Good To Go offers surplus end-of-day produce at low costs. Similarly, Olio helps locals share their excess food with their neighbours.
The conversation gets political
Climate goals was another topic for discussion. With some target dates already been and gone, perhaps we should view them as aspirations rather than deadlines. The closer we get to climate tipping points and planetary boundaries, the more urgent action becomes.
The Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales), which requires that public bodies make decisions with the wellbeing of future generations in mind, was held up as a model of real progress. The government should expand this to other areas of the UK. And there are some signs that things are changing. A recent fracking appeal in Southern England was turned down on the basis that it had failed to consider the impact on future generations.
A pioneer of the transition movement is Cornwall. By retrofitting social housing, residents have enjoyed lower energy bills. This has led to low income families being able to afford to eat properly and clothe their children, resulting in better school attendance.
Sustainability starts at home
The topic of home improvement sparked thoughts on the difficulty of making improvements in rented and shared ownership homes. One attendee mentioned that when Milton Keynes was a new town development, it set a new standard for build quality of new houses. We now need to upgrade building regulations to upgrade them further.
One attendee mentioned Wilderhood Watch, a group that brings neighbours together to help nature and build community relationships. We’d love to roll out our successful Meet Your Neighbours and Playing Out initiatives to more communities.
The path less travelled
With 75% of car journeys clocking in at under three miles, the evening’s last topic was travel. One great solution to congested roads and high emissions is St Albans’ Enterprise Car Club, which allows drivers to rent electric vehicles by the hour or day. If only it could expand further out of the city centre. Another option is car sharing. Liftshare and E-Car Club in Luton connect drivers and would-be passengers going in the same direction.
But it’s not just motor vehicles. We need to ensure aviation is taxed properly to make the equivalent rail journey cheaper than flying. This would encourage more people to let the train take the strain.
Closer to home, buses are also a great way to get around, with the Hertfordshire Connect Week explorer ticket now just £16.50* for unlimited travel. You can also buy the day version for £4.30* a day. Luton and Dunstable also runs a similar scheme, the rover Hip Hop ticket which includes Harpenden for £5 a day or £13 a week.
Users of the low cost single fares national scheme will be able to continue to enjoy single fares capped at up to a maximum of £3 throughout 2025 on most participating operators.
*Fares quoted were correct at the time of publication (Nov 30) include the 50% reduction which all Hertfordshire residents are entitled to of any age/ income on production of a valid saver card except for Hip Hop which remains full price.
Our next event
Come and meet the team behind The Green House, St Albans’ new eco hub and find out how it can help you live more sustainably.
Join us at 7:30 pm on Tuesday the 14th of January 2025. You can find out what skills you can learn at the hub, how it can save you money, how to get involved and hear about their exciting plans for the future. Book your free spot here.
About Our Planet Our Future
Our Planet Our Future is Sustainable St Alban’s landmark series of talks and events to help you live a more sustainable life.