Whats Next
n this section we provided a brief summary of what we’ve learned from the survey and the next steps that can be taken to tackle climate change and improve our environment.
Let us know what you think. Even better, get involved to make it happen!
What We Learned
Major, official national surveys have consistently found that a large majority of people are concerned about climate change and the state of our environment. This is strongly reflected in our survey. So, whilst there remains a need to provide reliable evidence about climate change, its causes and its impact, the main focus needs to be on identifying what can be done to slow, stop and eventually reverse human influenced climate change. Almost a quarter of participants wanted more information on the topics covered in our survey.
What we should do
Find and share reliable information on climate change and the best ways of tackling it.
Concerns about climate change are very wide ranging. It is important for the authorities to take action in relation to our use of the land, the buildings we place upon it, how we travel across it and our supplies and use of energy. The COP26 event also highlighted the importance of securing international agreements and action.
Support national and international campaigns and initiatives on aspects of climate change.
It was also important for local authorities to provide trusted information, work with community organisations and set environmental targets and report annually on progress. Between 62.8% and 70.8% of survey repsondents rated these activities as ‘extremely important’.
Press the Council to implement best practice recommendations from organisations such as the Town and Country Planning Association and report annually on its progress toward its commitment to be carbon net zero by 2030.
The diverse range of issues is a challenge but it is also an opportunity. The minority of survey participants who were members of environmental groups cited almost forty other such organisations.
Share information and support initiatives from other environmental groups.
As so often, the devil will be in the detail. The contributions to the survey provided a vast array of suggestions for practical action to help meet the climate challenge. Which of these should be prioritised? What’s the best way of getting local organisations and communities engaged in making these decisions and putting them in to practice?
If you’d like to help answer these questions, please get in touch.
Climate Action North East Derbyshire meet on the third Wednesday of the month. In early 2022 we are alternating between online Zoom meetings and face to face meetings.
You can also follow us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/832995943940108
References
BEIS (2021) BEIS Public Attitudes Tracker: Net Zero and Climate Change Autumn 2021, UK, [Online]. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040724/BEIS_PAT_Autumn_2021_Net_Zero_and_Climate_Change.pdf (Accessed 5 January 2022).House of Commons (2020) The path to net zero, Climate Assembly UK Full report, [Online]. Available at https://www.climateassembly.uk/report/read/final-report.pdf (Accessed 5 January 2022).ONS (2021a) Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, [Online]. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland (Accessed 5 January 2022).ONS (2021b) Data on public attitudes to the environment and the impact of climate change, Great Britain, [Online]. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/dataonpublicattitudestotheenvironmentandtheimpactofclimatechangegreatbritain (Accessed 5 January 2022).United Nations Development Programme (2021) Peoples’ Climate Vote [Online]. Available at https://www.undp.org/publications/peoples-climate-vote (Accessed 5 January 2022).